T1D patients can be categorized into two groups, those with recent onset of T1D and those with longstanding T1D. For those with recent onset of less than twelve months, 80-90% of them will become insulin free, often within a few weeks, days in some cases. This is because there are still some insulin-producing cells in the pancreas that are still alive and can recover. For those with onset of T1D between twelve and twenty-four months, the majority of them will become insulin free or nearly so. So, the earlier that SCE treatment is given, the better are the results.
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On the other hand, patients with longstanding T1D, greater than two years, have a slower and often less complete recovery, but most will have significantly less insulin requirement after a few months. Recovery in these patients takes longer because the pancreas has to be re-populated with insulin-producing cells that come from insulin-producing stem cells in the blood that have to find there way to the pancreas.