Korean scientists say they have found a way to treat diabetes.

A team of researchers led by Professor Lee Myung-shik of the Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine say that, for the first time in the world, they found that the fatty acid NF-kappaB inhibits pancreatic islet cell death and diabetes. Pancreatic islet cells produce insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar in the body.

In the past two decades, studies on the role of NF-kappaB in pancreatic islet cell death were inconclusive and researchers disagreed on how to develop a cure.

Lee’s team studied the mechanism for five years in cooperation with Dr. Michael Karin of the University of California, San Diego.

Lee’s paper was published in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Tuesday.