- It's likely in your fridge and now, scientists are studying lettuce to help millions of Americans diagnosed with type one diabetes.

Mike Beckman has had to prick his finger every single day for the past 34 years to manage his type one diabetes. "It's with you every day." 

Beckman has had bleeding in his eyes, a heart attack, nerve damage and now, both of his kidneys are failing. It's also taking a toll on his family. "I have a very young daughter. I'd like to see her grow up and see grandchildren. This is where I get emotional, so just bear with me."

Soon molecular biologist Henry Daniell might have an answer for people like Mike and it could come from lettuce. "So, this is a totally new concept," he added. 

Doctor Daniell injects the human gene for insulin into lettuce grown in the lab, which can then be ground into powder and put into a capsule. "What we have done is to teach the body how to cure this disorder."

Daniell says the lettuce plant cells help the insulin reach the intestine where it's then released. That stimulates an immune response and tells the body to produce its own insulin.

The first test was in animals. After eight weeks, all the diabetic mice had normal blood sugar levels and produced insulin, even after they stopped taking lettuce powder. Human trials are expected to start in the next year.

"I could literally give up everything, other than my family, to have a cure," said Beckman.

Researchers have been working 20 years to perfect this concept. They say patients would take the pill for weeks not months or years. They believe once the immune system responds, the patients would essentially no longer have diabetes.