A breakthrough in the diabetes research has scientists hopeful that they could have a vaccine for Type 1 diabetes in two years. Melbourne scientists discovered that the nasal spray vaccine could stop a diabetes patient's immune system from attacking the patient's insulin producing cells.

While the spray can't be used as a treatment for diabetes sufferers the discovery is still a step in developing an actual vaccine for diabetes. The spray can also be adapted for other auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Type 1 diabetes is a form of diabetes that has a patient's autoimmune system destroying insulin producing cells of the pancreas. The lack of insulin in the body leads to increased blood and urine glucose. This condition is fatal unless sufferers get daily injections of insulin. The nasal spray vaccine proves that it could prevent the disease from developing in at risk patients.

Melbourne researchers have been testing the spray in young people who have a family history of type 1 diabetes. Walter and Eliza Hall Institute's Professor Len Harrison said the vaccine stimulated the immune response in the lining of the nose. In a report in the Sydney Morning Herald Hall said ''This is the first time anyone has shown that this novel vaccine approach can change the immune response.''

The research could potentially mean a vaccine for more than 150,000 Australian diabetes sufferers. A report from the Institute of Health and Welfare shows a rise in diabetes in young people, this vaccine can curb that rise. This research could also save the Australian health system $600 million each year from diabetes costs.