Breakthrough in search for Type 1 diabetes cure

A cure for Type 1 diabetes is a step closer after scientists managed to halt the condition for six months thanks to insulin-producing cells.

Sarah Johnson, head of policy at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation which co-funded the research, told the Today programme how the research involved wrapping human beta cells - which produce insulin - in a product derived from brown algae and implanting them in mice.

The mice have had restoration of perfect blood glucose levels for six months, she told presenter Justin Webb.