Woman Cured of Type 1 Diabetes in Life-Changing Clinical Trial

Images: Good Morning America/ UChicago Medicine

Marlaina Goedel was only five years old when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a condition that would dominate her life for the next 25 years. Her struggle with the disease was intense, with frequent hospital visits and near-death experiences due to diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition caused by dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals in the blood from a lack of insulin. But now, thanks to a groundbreaking clinical trial, Goedel no longer needs insulin shots and can finally enjoy sugar again—something she never thought would be possible.

At the age of 30, the Illinois native has been cured of Type 1 diabetes through a pioneering stem cell therapy that has transformed her life. Goedel is one of three Americans who took part in the trial, which involved an islet cell transplant, a one-time infusion procedure designed to help the body produce insulin on its own.

For Goedel, living with Type 1 diabetes meant daily insulin injections, strict diets, and the constant threat of diabetic attacks. "I’ve crashed my car into a brick building before having a diabetic attack while driving," she recalled, explaining how diabetes had often put her life in danger. Her childhood was far from normal, dominated by hospital visits, health scares, and the constant need to manage her condition.

But everything changed when she participated in the clinical trial at the University of Chicago Medicine Transplant Institute. After undergoing the islet cell transplant, Goedel’s life took a remarkable turn. The procedure involved transplanting healthy islet cells from a deceased donor’s pancreas into her liver, where they would lodge in small blood vessels and begin producing insulin.

Just four weeks after the transplant, Goedel received life-altering news: she no longer needed insulin shots. “My doctor said, ‘Mark it on your calendar. Today is the day. Stop all insulin,’” Goedel recounted. “I just went quiet and finally said, ‘I’m here. I’m in shock. I’m going to need you to repeat that.’”

The procedure itself lasted only an hour, and Goedel described her only side effect as “feeling like I got punched in the ribs.” The result, however, was nothing short of miraculous.

Islet cell transplants aren’t entirely new, but one of the biggest challenges with the procedure has been the body’s rejection of the transplanted cells. Traditional anti-rejection medications can be toxic to these cells, reducing the procedure's long-term effectiveness. However, this clinical trial tested a new antibody called tegoprubart, a lab-made solution that tricks the immune system into accepting the transplanted cells as if they were naturally produced by the body. This innovation has prevented Goedel’s body from rejecting the new islet cells, allowing them to function and produce insulin on their own.

Thanks to this trial, Goedel’s life has completely changed. She plans to go back to school and pick up hobbies like horse riding, no longer burdened by the constant worry of diabetic attacks. “It took a while to get used to saying, ‘I am cured. I am diabetes free.’ It’s been very freeing,” she shared.

Goedel’s story brings hope to millions of others living with Type 1 diabetes, as her cure offers a glimpse into a future where managing this disease may no longer be a lifetime burden. “The cure is out there,” Goedel said, filled with optimism. “No one should have to live with this disease. I know that now more than ever.”

This breakthrough marks a new chapter in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes, and Goedel’s success story is a testament to the life-changing potential of scientific innovation and medical research.

source:RDasia