By Kathleen Blanchard RN for EmaxHealth.com

Researchers have discovered blocking a specific hormone eliminates symptoms of type 1 diabetes, providing a potential cure for the disease.

The discovery was made when scientists, working with mice, found out they could eliminate the hormone glucagon with no negative effect on mice unable to produce insulin. They also found mice able to respond normally to insulin suffered no ill effects when glucacon receptors were destroyed.

Blocking the hormone could essentially provide a “cure” for type 1 diabetes because the need for insulin treatment becomes unnecessary, suggest the researchers.