Cord Blood Shows Promise as Diabetes Treatment for Children

A recent Gainesville Sun report notes that a pilot study demonstrated the potential efficacy of umbilical cord blood in the treatment of childhood diabetes. Although the study does not have far-reaching conclusions and stops short of touting umbilical cord blood as a "super treatment", it does demonstrate that cord blood therapies do have very real potential medical benefits.

According to the Sun, "Giving children with type 1 diabetes an infusion of blood saved from their own umbilical cords helped reduce the severity of their disease, University of Florida researchers reported Monday."

The cord blood is rich in regulatory cells for the immune system and may assist in "jump starting" the children's systems. However, the boosting effect of the cord blood is probably not permanent and the treatment will require additional study. You can read more about this interesting development here.