Abstract: The present invention provides for methods of treating type I diabetes by inducing hyperleptinemia in subjects afflicted with type I diabetes. These methods can achieve normoglycemia and suppress hypergluconemia, and alleviate conditions associated with such, even in the absence of or at extremely low levels of adjunct insulin therapy, and without any appreciable increase in insulinogenesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of diabetes involving free radicals. In particular, the present invention is directed to the treatment or prophylactic intervention of diabetes. The present invention demonstrates that MnSOD can play a protective role against cytokine killing, and provides strategies for engineering cell lines as islet surrogates for transplantation therapy of diabetes mellitus. Further, the present invention shows that &bgr;-cell destruction and dysfunction in adipogenic diabetes is mediated via fatty acids. Methods and compositions for ameliorating this disorder are provided herein.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for diagnosing autoimmune insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. In general, diagnostic methods of the invention include testing for the presence of an autoimmune immunoglobulin in a suspected patient's serum wherein the immunoglobulin is identified by its ability to interfere with the glucose transporting activity of a pancreatic islet cell glucose transporter. The inventors have discovered that the presence of such an autoimmune antibody in patient's serum is diagnostic of autoimmune insulin dependant diabetes mellitus. In particular aspects the diagnostic assay of the invention involves the incubation of isolated and dispersed islet cells, such as rat islet cells, in the presence of immunoglobulin obtained from the patient. Following such an incubation, the islet cells are tested for their ability to uptake glucose. A diagnosis is made through a determination that immunoglobulins in the serum of the patient specifically inhibit the uptake of glucose by the islet cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for diagnosing autoimmune insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. In general, diagnostic methods of the invention include testing for the presence of an autoimmune immunoglobulin in a suspected patient's serum wherein the immunoglobulin is identified by its ability to interfere with the glucose transporting activity of a pancreatic islet cell glucose transporter. The inventors have discovered that the presence of such an autoimmune antibody in patient's serum is diagnostic of autoimmune insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. In particular aspects the diagnostic assay of the invention involves the incubation of isolated and dispersed islet cells, such as rat islet cells, in the presence of immunoglobulin obtained from the patient. Following such an incubation, the islet cells are tested for their ability to uptake glucose. A diagnosis is made through a determination that immunoglobulins in the serum of the patient specifically inhibit the uptake of glucose by the islet cells.