Retraining the immune system to treat type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks islets, certain areas of the pancreas, and destroys cells that would otherwise produce insulin, a hormone crucial for regulating blood sugar levels. One emerging treatment is transplantation—replacing islets with healthy cells—but patients would have to take medication to subdue the immune system, so the body would not reject the therapy.