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The reason is unknown. But there are several theories, including viruses, dietary factors and the hygiene hypothesis, which posits that the immune system has so little to defend against in the modern antiseptic world that it starts attacking the body.
Taylor Roberts is the first person in Greenville, and one of 250 worldwide so far, in this phase of the study, Nelson said.
It all began last May, when Jack suddenly became very thirsty and weak, started having stomach pain and losing weight, Debi Roberts said.
Tom Roberts, whose mother had died of diabetes complications, recognized the signs right away and Jack was whisked off to the doctor.
“It was very traumatic,” his mom said.
They came home with boxes of supplies — glucose meters, needles, insulin. And life began to revolve around blood tests and counting carbohydrates and shots, though they tried to keep things as normal as possible.
Then they learned the chances that Taylor, as Jack’s sister, would also develop diabetes were one in four. They looked into the oral insulin trial.
“My parents asked me if I’d be OK with it and I said, ‘Why not?’ ” said Taylor, adding she was nervous about all the tests and shots Jack had to undergo because he was so scared.
“I wanted to help find a cure for people with diabetes,” she said, “and to prevent me and other people from having it.”
Roberts said she and her husband agreed, so long as there were no side effects.
So far, Nelson said, there are none.
“The one we’re most concerned about is how does this affect blood sugar,” he said. “But it’s not the same as injecting insulin. In the pill form, there is no effect on blood sugar.”
Taylor must have blood drawn every three months as part of the study, but that’s something she’d have to do anyway with her risk, her mom said.
“We felt it was worth it,” she said, “if this is possibly the cure or preventive.”
Taylor keeps her capsules in a pill box marked for the days of the week. And since she doesn’t like swallowing them, she sprinkles the contents — which could be a placebo because only half the trial participants get insulin to ensure the results — on yogurt. That also disguises the slightly bitter taste.
It’s become part of her routine, she said.
Meanwhile, Jack, now 7, has an insulin pump, which administers the right amount of insulin into his belly based on the number of carbohydrates eaten. It’s a lot better, he says, than all those shots in the arm.
