Do injections of insulin really cure Type 1 diabetes mellitus?
Daily injections of insulin act to replace that which would have been formed in the pancreas. The schedule of insulin injections cannot often be precisely timed to the metabolic needs of the individual, and so the lifespan of most diabetics are reduced by a number of complications such as kidney failure, nerve impairment and cardiovascular disease. But although diabetics can live a relatively normal life by taking insulin, watching their diet and following precise exercise schedules, a real cure would be to prevent an autonomic attack (Type 1 Diabetes), replace the lost ?-cells and prevent their subsequent destruction by the immune system.