Trial success could revolutionise care

Results of the test - which have turned the heads of specialists across the world - were unveiled yesterday after 18 months of work.

The successful trial on two patients who suffer from type one diabetes means they no longer require insulin injections, and could spell a major change in the care of diabetes patients.

It involved islet cell infusions from pancreas donors being transplanted into the patients, meaning they no longer are at risk of losing consciousness through a hypoglycaemic attack.

John Casey, clinical lead for the Scottish Islet Transplant programme, welcomed the development which was announced at a specialist unit in Liberton.

"This is an important step in the treatment of diabetes," he said.

"The improved quality of life for both patients is excellent. We hope we can now offer this form of therapy to many more Scottish patients."

The process, launched in November 2009, involved islets being extracted from a dead donor's pancreas.

They were then injected into patients at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary's transplant unit.

It means that they no longer have to worry about monitoring their blood sugar levels.

Clinicians in Edinburgh involved in the project have been greatly excited about it, particularly as the results began to show encouraging signs.

They met health secretary Nicola Sturgeon to explain the development.

Ms Sturgeon also used the launch to appeal for more people to sign up to the donor register.

And she met one of the patients involved, Kathleen Duncan, who has suffered from type one diabetes for more than 30 years, meaning she had to inject insulin four times a day until now.

"My life has been totally changed since the transplants. I have more control over my diabetes, and can lead a practically normal life."