BOSTON, June 12 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have discovered that a high percentage of people with type 1 diabetes -- insulin-dependent -- have had the disease for 50 years or longer.
Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center say they found 48 percent of the total participants reported no or very little microvascular complications, such as kidney and eye problems, which demonstrates that long duration of diabetes does not always progress to complications.
There also was no significant difference in age, duration, age of onset or long-term glucose control measured by glycated hemoglobin levels between those with or without complications.
The study, presented Monday at the American Diabetes Association 66th Annual Scientific Sessions in Washington, is part of the second phase of a study assessing factors in 326 patients with more than 50 years of insulin-dependent diabetes.
It evaluated a subset of 125 people with type 1 diabetes for biomarkers of insulin function. Of this group, 12.7 percent had a c-peptide level greater than 0.3 ng/mL, which indicates active islet cells and some residual insulin production.
"The findings are phenomenal," said Hillary Keenan, research associate at Joslin and co-investigator of the study.
