Breakthrough Drug for Type 1 Diabetes Approved in the UK

A Delay That Offers Precious Time
Clinical trials have demonstrated that a single 14-day course of intravenous infusions of teplizumab can delay the progression to stage 3 type 1 diabetes—the point at which a person typically experiences symptoms and requires insulin therapy—by an average of three years. For people at stage 2 of the disease, who have a high risk of progression, this delay is invaluable. It provides a crucial window of time for patients and their families, allowing them to live for longer without the constant burden of monitoring blood sugar levels, counting carbohydrates, and administering insulin. This period can also be used for patient education and to prepare for the eventual management of the condition.