| Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that | | | | Her research involves injecting mice with a substance |
| occurs when the immune system begins destroying | | | | called Freund's Complete Adjuvant--which is a mixture |
| normal, healthy cells. The immune system is a part of | | | | of water, oil and parts of dead tuberculosis bacteria. |
| the body that normally protects us from disease by | | | | This mixture then over stimulates the immune |
| attaching germs like viruses and bacteria, and for | | | | system cells that are attaching the pancreas, making |
| some unknown reason, just starts attacking normal | | | | those white blood cells self-destruct, stopping the |
| cells. Among the cells that are destroyed are the | | | | bodies attach on the beta cells in the pancreas. The |
| beta cells that make insulin in the pancreas. | | | | pancreas then cures itself. |
| As the beta cells are attacked, they are unable to | | | | Her studies indicate that even a mouse that has had |
| produce insulin. A person with this type of diabetes | | | | diabetes for a long time still has the capacity to |
| must take insulin several times per day and | | | | develop new beta cells in the pancreas. |
| constantly monitor his/her blood sugar levels. | | | | Faustman recently attracted the attention of Lee |
| Dr. Denise Faustman of Massachusetts General | | | | Iococca who recently raised $11 million for her |
| Hospital in Boston had found a way to cure Type 1 | | | | medical center for further studies of her discovery |
| diabetes, at least in mice. | | | | on humans. Iococca's wife died of Type 1 diabetes. |