A 61-year-old Englishman has become the first person in the UK to be cured of type 1 diabetes through cell transplant ? a result currently being heralded as a major breakthrough in the fight against the illness.

However, speaking to last week, Bermuda Diabetes Centre co-ordinator Deborah Jones cautioned Bermudians against getting carried away with the treatment's success at this stage, pointing out that many of those treated have suffered relapses or continue to need small doses of insulin.

Richard Lane of Bromley in Kent, who had diabetes for more than 30 years, no longer needs daily injections after receiving insulin-generating cells from the pancreases of dead donors at the King's College Hospital in London.

Diabetes is caused by the inability of the body to produce sufficient quantities of the hormone insulin, which is responsible for controlling blood sugar levels.

The new treatment involves the injection of healthy islet cells into the patient's liver.

Despite the fact he now must take medication to stop his body rejecting the new cells, Mr. Lane told the UK's Guardian newspaper that he "has never felt better" and has lost close to 20 pounds in six months.

The treatment was pioneered by Canadian researchers based in Edmonton, while eight other countries are currently involved in the research under the Diabetes UK Islet Consortium.

Mrs. Jones stressed that the treatment is still very much on trial and it would be some time before insurance companies would agree to cover the cost.

Although about 18 percent of the Bermuda's population is diabetic, only around 100 Bermudians suffer from type 1 diabetes,

"The technology being used is very exciting and is an unbelievable breath-through in type 1 diabetes treatment," Mrs. Jones said.

"But the treatment has been taking place in Edmonton for about ten years and they have suffered setbacks in that some of their patients have been insulin free for only around 18 months before suffering relapses. It is also only affects those suffering from type 1 diabetes so the effect on the overall number of diabetes sufferers in Bermuda is negligible.

"It is a very complicated procedure still in the clinical trial stage ? so if you get selected for treatment then great ? but it could be some time until it becomes an insured treatment available to everybody."

For more information go to www.globalnews.idf.org/2005/03successful.isl.html.

The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital is currently recruiting for a major clinical trial for those with heart disease.

The initiative, which is taking place in 22 countries world-wide, is open to high-risk patients who have already suffered a heart attack or undergone a "stent" operation.

The trial will involve the use of insulin as a cure for chronic heart conditions.

All those interested in applying are asked to call Deborah Jones at the hospital on 236-2345.