Recent reports indicate that Chinese scientists have made significant strides in developing a potential cure for diabetes using stem cell therapy.
This breakthrough involves reprogramming stem cells to restore insulin production, potentially addressing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
READ ALSO: China and US agree in principle on framework for trade deal.
Type 2 Diabetes: A 59-year-old man treated in Shanghai was reportedly cured of type 2 diabetes after receiving stem cell-derived islet cells.
Within 11 weeks, he no longer needed insulin injections, and late he ceased all diabetes medications, maintaining stable blood sugar levels for over three years.
Type 1 Diabetes: A 25-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes underwent a similar procedure at Tianjin First Central Hospital.
Using her own stem cells to generate insulin-producing islet cells, she became insulin-free within three months and has remained so for over a year, as reported in Cell.
Concerning the methodology, These treatments use autologous stem cells derived from the patient’s own body, eliminating the need for immunosuppressive drugs.
READ ALSO: China throws support behind Iran, Israel’s attacks on Iran are ‘unacceptable’
This is a a major hurdle in traditional islet cell transplants and the approach could make the therapy more scalable and accessible.
However, these are early-stage clinical trials with small sample sizes, and several challenges are yet to be resolved before implementation.
Currently, No definitive timeline for public availability has been confirmed. Further trials are needed to ensure safety, efficacy, and scalability.