Researchers work around the clock to prevent and cure diabetes. In 2003, your American Diabetes Association spent $33.8 million to fund research toward preventing, treating, and curing diabetes.

Right now, the closest thing to a cure for type 1 diabetes is a pancreas transplant. This kind of surgery is very risky. Transplant patients have to take powerful medicine for the rest of their lives to suppress their immune system. If they stop taking the medicine, their body's immune system would recognize the new pancreas as a "stranger" and reject it.

But taking the medicine leaves your body with very little protection from other diseases. So, a pancreas transplant is not the answer.

Researchers are also experimenting with transplanting beta cells (read more about beta cells here.) This treatment is promising but hasn't hasn't had long term success yet.

Even though there is no cure for diabetes right now, advances in diabetes treatment are being made all the time. Lots of studies show you can live a healthy, happy life with diabetes. (But you didn't need a study to tell you that, right?!)

Good diabetes care can be complicated, and adjusting to the change can be a challenge. But the results -- a healthy, long life -- are worth it!