In A First, China Woman's Type-1 Diabetes Cured After Stem Cell Procedure

"I can eat sugar now," remarked a woman from China who recently became the world's first person to successfully undergo a stem cell procedure that can reverse Type-1 diabetes. The Tianjin resident's treatment became a significant milestone in diabetic research, the scientists in the case said. According to reports, researchers from Peking University used the woman's own stem cells to reprogram them into insulin-producing islet cells. She was able to manage her blood sugar levels within two months without the help of any external insulin.

Cure For Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, where the body’s immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Patients rely on external insulin and immunosuppressants to manage the condition. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, this condition is not linked to lifestyle factors. 

Until now, the closest option to cure Type 1 diabetes was an islet-cell transplant. However, the scarcity of donor cells often made it an impractical solution. After years of research, Peking University scientists found a way to reverse the condition using a patient's existing stem cells.

The method showed promising results even during the trial rounds. The first successful trial was conducted on a 59-year-old male patient. He began producing insulin within three months of treatment and achieved nearly normal blood sugar levels within four months.

Now, the researchers used the Tianjin woman's own stem cells and reprogrammed them to produce insulin. These stem cells were then injected through her abdominal muscles, which is a new site for this kind of procedure, and allowing the scientists to monitor the activity using an MRI.

In just two and a half months, the woman was able to manage her autoimmune disorder without the need for any external source of insulin. The subject has successfully managed to manage her insulin production by herself for over a year now, scientists reported.

However, since the woman was already on immunosuppressants due to a previous liver transplant, lead researcher Dr Deng Hongku said that the team is verifying whether the new islet cells will be affected by the same autoimmune response that caused her diabetes.

The subject will reach complete two years post-treatment milestone in November, and if her condition remains stable, it could signify a major leap forward in treating type 1 diabetes. The researchers plan to expand the trial later this year, aiming to include up to 20 participants.