A Research Trial of Aralast NP in New Onset Diabetes (RETAIN) - Part II

T1D is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system (the part of your body that helps fight infections) mistakenly attacks the cells that produce insulin (beta cells in the pancreas). As beta cells are destroyed by your immune cells, your ability to produce insulin is decreased. Insulin helps keep blood glucose levels normal. Individuals with T1D who have the ability to produce some of their own insulin (even though they still need to take insulin) may be able to achieve better glucose control than people who produce no insulin at all. Better glucose control has been shown to reduce the long-term complications of diabetes. Previous research has shown that giving medicines to affect the immune system soon after type 1 diabetes is diagnosed may stop, delay or decrease the destruction of beta cells, resulting in better glucose control. In mouse models of disease, alpha-1 proteinase inhibitors have been shown to reverse new-onset diabetes and induce a state of self-tolerance. The RETAIN clinical trial was intended to investigate the effect of Aralast NP on preserving beta cell function and slowing the progression of T1D.