November 6, 2007

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and researchers at the University of Virginia may have found a way to help treat millions of Americans who suffer from diabetes in the future.

They ran their study on a special type of lab mice that is prone to diabetes; then they identified an enzyme thought to be an important trigger of the what causes the disease.

Researchers then genetically altered lab mice to remove the enzyme and after seven months their research found that only about 2% of the mice contracted diabetes; providing some hope for the future.

"If we can develop a drug that we know can prevent this enzyme from functioning, then you basically have the same effect of knocking it out, said Dr. Craig Nunemaker.

Although more testing is needed, experts are hoping this could lead to longer and stronger lives for those living with diabetes.