Treatment of diabetes with copper binding compounds

1. A method of treating a human for diabetes, the method comprising administering to said human a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable cupric binding agent selected from the group consisting of triethylenetetramine dihydrochloride, penicillamine, sar, diamsar, and o-phenanthroline.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

4. The method of any of claims 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein said cupric binding agent is a copper chelator.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.

6. A method of treating a human for diabetes, the method comprising administering to said human a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable oxidized copper binding agent.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

9. The method of any of claims 6 , 7 , or 8 , wherein said copper binding agent is a copper chelator.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.

11. A method of treating one or more long-term complications of diabetes in a human suffering therefrom, the method comprising administering a composition consisting essentially of a cupric binding agent in an amount effective to ameliorate one or more of said conditions.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

14. The method of any of claims 11 , 12 or 13 , wherein said cupric binding agent is a copper chelator.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.

16. A method for minimizing or reducing tissue damage associated with diabetes mellitus in a human, which comprises the prophylactic administration to a human of a therapeutically effective amount of a cupric binding agent.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

19. The method of any of claims 16 , 17 or 18 , wherein said cupric binding agent is a copper chelator.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.

21. A method of treating one or more long-term complications of diabetes in a human suffering therefrom, the method comprising administering a composition consisting essentially of a compound that can bind or chelate oxidized, copper in an amount effective to ameliorate one or more of said conditions.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

24. The method of any of claims 21 , 22 , or 23 , wherein said compound is a copper chelator.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.

26. A method for minimizing or reducing tissue damage associated with diabetes mellitus in a human, which comprises the prophylactic administration to a human of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that can bind or chelate oxidized copper.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

29. The method of any of claims 26 , 27 , 28 , wherein said compound is a copper chelator.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.

31. A method of treating one or more long-term complications of diabetes in a human suffering therefrom, the method comprising forming a cupric complex within the human by administering a composition consisting essentially of an effective amount of a copper binding agent.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

34. The method of any of claims 31 , 32 , or 33 , wherein said copper binding agent is a copper chelator.

35. The method according to claim 34 wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.

36. A method of treating one or more long-term complications of diabetes in a human suffering therefrom, the method comprising forming an oxidized copper complex within the human by administering a composition consisting essentially of an effective amount of a copper binding agent.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

39. The method of any of claims 36 , 37 , or 38 , wherein said copper binding agent is a copper chelator.

40. The method according to claim 34 wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.

41. A method for minimizing or reducing tissue damage associated with diabetes mellitus in a human, the method comprising forming a cupric complex within the human by prophylactically administering an effective amount of a copper binding agent.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

44. The method of any of claims 41 , 42 , or 43 , wherein said copper binding agent is a copper chelator.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.

46. A method for minimizing or reducing tissue damage associated with diabetes mellitus in a human, the method comprising forming an oxidized copper complex within the human by prophylactically administering an effective amount of a copper binding agent.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said human has type 1 diabetes.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein said human has type 2 diabetes.

49. The method of any of claims 46 , 47 , or 48 , wherein said copper binding agent is a copper chelator.

50. The method according to claim 49 wherein said copper chelator is administered orally.