Novel PET imaging could guide therapy for type 1 diabetes

Researchers have discovered a new positron imaging tomography (PET) imaging method to improve the care of patients with type 1 diabetes. The new PET method could measure beta-cell mass which would enhance the ability to monitor a diabetes patient and guide their therapy. Dr. Jason Bini, Yale University PET Centre in New Haven explained the significance of patients being able to track their beta-cell mass which includes “both functional and non-functional beta-cells.” He went on to say, “Many indirect methods to measure beta-cell function are influenced by factors such as glucose and insulin levels and are not able to measure non-functional (dormant) beta cells that may be responsive to treatments.