Truckers who are held back from driving interstate because of the effects of diabetes may find some hope in recent scientific discoveries.

A group of researchers at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital have reversed the effects of diabetes in mice by injection cells from healthy animals into the diseased rodents, The Associated Press reported. 

After the injections, the scientists were able to confirm that the pancreas was being reconstructed in the sick mice, and that their cells were secreting insulin – essentially curing them of type-1 diabetes. 

The study opens the possibility that “patients with fully established diabetes possibly could have their diabetes reversed," Dr. David Nathan, the director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Centre, said.

For those truckers who have the disease, the news could have a significant impact of their ability to earn a living. Federal rules on the books since 1970 now restrict drivers with the disease.

However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently started a program that allows drivers with insulin-dependent diabetes to apply for an exemption from those medical restrictions.

The exemption, which became available starting Sept. 22, requires applicants to have a valid intrastate CDL and to have operated a CMV while using insulin to control a diabetic condition for the three years immediately preceding the application. The new rules also require that the three-year driving record has no suspensions or revocation, no convictions for disqualifying offenses, no more than one serious traffic violation, and no accidents where the applicant contributed to the cause or received a citation for a moving violation.

“The ability to operate CMVs safely for three years clearly helps to indicate that applicants can perform the arduous work required in this type of job category,” FMCSA said.