Mike Beckman has had to do this-- every single day for the past 34 years to manage his type one diabetes. He's had bleeding in his eyes, a heart attack, nerve damage and now, both of his kidneys are failing.
it's also taking a toll on his family.
"I have a very young daughter. I'd like to see her grow up and see grandchildren. This is where I get emotional, so just bear with me."
Soon researcher Henry Daniell may have an answer for people like Mike, and it could come from lettuce.
"So this is a totally new concept." Doctor Daniell injects the human gene for insulin into leaves of lettuce that are grown in the lab.
The leaves can be ground into powder and put into a capsule.
"What we have done is to teach the body how to cure this disorder."
The lettuce helps the powdered capsule reach the intestine. There, plant cells meet with bacteria and release the insulin. This stimulates an immune response and tells the body to produce its own insulin.
The first test was in animals.
After eight weeks, all the diabetic mice had normal blood sugar levels and produced insulin -- even after they stopped taking the lettuce.
Now, human trials are planned. Daniell says this could be a permanent solution.
"I could literally give up everything, other than my family, to have a cure."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Henry Daniell, PhD University of Central Florida, College of Medicine daniell@mail.ucf.edu http://daniell.ucf.edu