During a recent broadcast of Dr. Deb Carlin’s radio show, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton and Diabetes Research Institute Foundation’s (DRIF) Long Island Regional Director Anthony Childs were interviewed. First, DeRiggi-Whitton discussed having a child with type 1 diabetes. Then, she and Childs spoke about the breakthrough research being done to work towards finding a cure for diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly destroys insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas. The DRIF’s focus is to develop a biological cure by replacing those cells. The organization is working on the creation of a BioHub, which is a “mini organ” that mimics the native pancreas. The BioHub contains thousands of insulin-producing cells that sense blood sugar levels and release the precise amount of insulin needed in real time. “For the millions living with diabetes, the DRIF BioHub brings the promise of natural insulin production and normal blood sugar levels one step closer to reality,” Childs said.
For information about research being done at DRIF, or to make a donation or volunteer, visit www.drif
.org or call 516-822-1700.
