Chinese scientists have achieved a remarkable feat in medical history by curing a diabetes patient through an innovative cell therapy. The breakthrough treatment, devised collaboratively by experts from Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, the Centre for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, and Renji Hospital, was detailed in the journal Cell Discovery on April 30.
Reportedly, the patient underwent the cell transplant in July 2021, and within eleven weeks, he ceased external insulin usage. Subsequently, over the following year, he progressively reduced and ultimately ceased oral medication for blood sugar control. Lead researcher Yin highlighted that follow-up examinations confirmed the restoration of the patient’s pancreatic islet function, maintaining his insulin independence for 33 months.
This groundbreaking therapy signifies a substantial leap in diabetes treatment, drawing praise from experts worldwide. Timothy Kieffer from the University of British Columbia hailed it as a pivotal advancement in cell therapy for diabetes, potentially liberating patients from the burden of chronic medications and enhancing their quality of life.
As reported by Economic Times, the therapy involves reprogramming peripheral blood mononuclear cells into “seed cells” to regenerate pancreatic islet tissue, leveraging the body’s regenerative capacity in the realm of regenerative medicine. With China bearing a significant healthcare burden due to diabetes, this breakthrough could alleviate the reliance on lifelong insulin injections for millions of patients, pending further validation through extensive studies.