U.K. doctors have cured a 61-year-old man of Type 1 diabetes following three transplants of islet cells obtained from donor pancreases and transplanted by injection, into the man's liver.

The breakthrough, by doctors at King’s College Hospital, could mean the end of insulin dependence for all Type 1 diabetes sufferers.

The procedure is minimally invasive and only takes around 45 minutes to complete, according to a statement released by London's, King’s College Hospital.

The 61-year-old patient suffered from Type 1 diabetes for over 30 years and no longer requires insulin injections.

"This breakthrough in islet transplantation is remarkable. King’s is the first centre in the UK to achieve insulin independence in Type 1 patients." said Mr. Nigel Heaton, Consultant Liver Surgeon. "We have shown that cell transplantation, with both pancreatic islet cells and previously with hepatocyte cells, can offer patients a valuable alternative to conventional treatment," added Heaton.

This is still an experimental procedure for people with Type 1 diabetes in which pancreatic islets from human donor organs are infused into the body to try and replace some of the islet function which the patient has lost. In order to prevent rejection of the islet graft and recurrence of the diabetes, the recipient is committed to taking drugs that suppress the body’s immune system.

Type 1 diabetes often starts in childhood and once present is irreversible. It occurs as a result of the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin being destroyed. Usually, the destruction of the insulin making cells is the result of an autoimmune process, in which the body fails to recognize the cells as its own and destroys them. This destruction results in total insulin deficiency. Prior to this breakthrough the only treatment for Type 1 diabetes was insulin injections.