Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. An inexpensive drug that's been used for decades in transplant surgeries can delay the progression of type 1 diabetes in those newly diagnosed, new research suggests. In previous studies, a high dose of the immune-suppressing drug polyclonal antithymocyte globulin (ATG) reduced the loss of insulin-making cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. The new study shows that a much smaller dose is almost as effective at slowing disease progression in type 1 — but with fewer side effects. In type 1 diabetes (T1D), the immune system destroys the body's beta cells, which produce insulin, the hormone that allows glucose from the blood to enter cells, where it is used as fuel. Without enough insulin, glucose piles up in the bloodstream. But there's a window of time soon after diagnosis, called the "honeymoon phase," in which beta cells still produce some insulin; this provides an opportunity to keep those remaining beta cells alive longer. A longer honeymoon phase and more residual beta cell function are tied to reduced risk of diabetes complications, such as heart and kidney disease, down the line.
Published: April 4, 2026 6:00 pm
Source: Live Science — Read original