German researchers say they are hopeful for the success of a vaccine against type 1 diabetes to be offered to very young children.
The vaccine uses an oral insulin powder aimed at training the immune system not to react against the substance.
It is based on the idea that the autoimmune reaction in type 1 diabetes is against insulin itself.
The treatment has already been tested on children aged between two and seven and researchers say there has been a "positive" immune response together with no indications of side-effects.
The next stage of the children will involve infants with a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes.
The aim will be to see whether the vaccine successfully prevents the development of the disease.
The developers say the oral treatment does not influence blood sugar levels – but can train the immune system.
Professor Anette-Gabriele Ziegler, director of the Institute of Diabetes Research, of The Helmholtz Zentrum München, said: “The autoimmune response that causes type 1 diabetes in childhood is often initially directed at the insulin.
"The aim of the Pre-POINTearly study is therefore to build up immune tolerance to insulin and thus block the autoimmune process.”
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