Cow's Milk and Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a lifelong affliction that affects large numbers of children and adults worldwide. 1 At least 1 in 300 Americans will ultimately develop the disease. Despite advances in insulin purity and delivery, ease of home blood glucose monitoring, and the encouraging results of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, 2 IDDM is still associated with an unacceptably high morbidity and mortality. Thus, IDDM is a huge financial burden to affected individuals and their families as well as to society. The total cost of diabetes in the United States currently exceeds $100 billion per year, with a disproportionately large share accounted for by the 10% to 15% of patients with IDDM. 3 Therefore, research aimed at the prevention of IDDM is imperative. The identification and elimination of possible causative agents of the disease would have profound influence on the increasing worldwide incidence of IDDM. Some contend that