A Sydney toddler named Lucy Hinchion received her own umbilical cord blood to prevent or delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition where the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose.

Lucy’s cord blood was stored at birth to help her sister Ava, who has Type 1 diabetes. Lucy was found to be at high risk of developing the condition herself, so she underwent a 20-minute procedure to reinfuse her cord blood as part of a study at The Children’s Hospital in Westmead.

The cord blood contains immune cells and stem cells that may help improve the treatment of many diseases. Lucy’s parents hope that the procedure will help Lucy avoid diabetes or buy her a few years. The study is funded by Cell Care Australia and involves more than 100 children with a family history of Type 1 diabetes.

Lucy’s mum said, “I think as treatments go, it is one of the easiest and most straightforward things you can do. You’re putting all your eggs in one basket but without doing this trial and without putting yourself out there, we’re never going to learn. The other risk is, she develops diabetes and you’ll kick yourself for not trying.”