Diabetes breakthrough
Stem cells could replace daily insulin injections for many people with type 1 diabetes, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
It reported that 15 patients with type 1 diabetes overcame an insulin dependence after being treated with their own stem cells. Their immune systems were suppressed using drugs to destroy the white blood cells attacking their pancreas and they were then injected with a chemical to ‘loosen’ stems cells from their bone marrow.
These were filtered out then injected back into the patients’ bloodstream, leading to the patients losing their insulin dependence. One patient has not had to inject himself for almost three years.
