One of the first inquiries someone has after learning they have diabetes is whether or not there is a treatment option. There is currently no treatment for type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed with insulin, dietary changes, and exercise. Currently, research is concentrated on treatments to reverse type 1 diabetes so that those who have the condition can live healthy lives without requiring medication.
Recent developments in the fight against type 1 diabetes
A study from 2021 found that type 1 diabetes research may be divided into three major categories.
- Replacement for insulin
Diabetes management frequently includes regular insulin replacement via injections or, in some circumstances, insulin pumps. Insulin that originates from outside the body is known as exogenous insulin. Research on insulin replacement is mostly focused on enhancing therapy rather than finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. However, they can offer significant improvements in life quality.
- Cell-based Therapies
Cell therapy holds great promise for the treatment of unmet medical needs. When replacing beta cells or treating diabetic complications, cell therapy can be used to treat diabetes mellitus. Two other cell-based possibilities include encouraging your body to regenerate beta cells and switching to different types of pancreatic cells for the generation of insulin. Stem cell research is heavily implemented in this research, as stated in a 2021 review. Great effects from stem cell therapy have been seen in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
- Protecting beta cells
The third major study subject is concerned with maintaining your current beta cells. A study focused on those more likely to acquire type 1 diabetes but had not yet received a diagnosis. This study discovered that a monoclonal antibody treatment was useful in delaying the onset of diabetes.
What part does stem cell research play in the management of diabetes?
Studying the mechanisms of diabetes and the digestion of glucose by our cells has shown stem cells to be quite helpful. Answers to problems like "Why does the immune system damage pancreatic beta cells in Type 1 diabetes?" and "What promotes insulin sensitivity in Type 2 diabetes?" are being sought using stem cell research.
Studying diabetes has lately made significant strides because of the development of beta cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In the near future, replacement therapy and transplant procedures might use iPSC-derived beta cells. Because induced pluripotent stem cells are created from the patient's own cells, the likelihood of transplant rejection is decreased.
What can stem cells do?
Stem Cell Therapy for treating type 1 diabetes involves introducing stem cells into the lab where they are "coaxed" to develop into beta cells, which are the kind of cells that produce insulin in the body.
Because the immune system attacks and damages the body's beta cells in type 1 diabetics, the pancreas is unable to manufacture insulin on its own. Therefore, injectable insulin is required to manage a person's blood sugar levels.
Who Could Receive Treatment?
People with severe types of type 1 diabetes have received the majority of stem cell-based therapies because they are most at risk for negative health effects and frequently have high blood sugar levels.
Those who have type 1 diabetes in a severe form are frequently the ones who may be thinking about more progressive therapies. Even if a transplant successfully treats their diabetes, it's possible that the condition has advanced to the point where they now have kidney impairment in addition to other health issues.
Long-Term Prospects
People with type 1 diabetes must regularly check their blood sugar and provide themselves with insulin. Even for those who have been managing the disease for a long time, constant vigilance can be difficult.
You basically spend the majority of your waking hours attempting to balance your insulin, your diet, and your exercise because there is always the potential of unexpectedly high or low blood sugar levels.
Since human stem cell therapy is very new, it will take some time to demonstrate its long-term advantages. However, there is already evidence of short-term success. It will assist patients' overall quality of life if type 1 diabetes is successfully treated before the condition worsens, leading to major health consequences. Patients still don't always receive 100% of their "normal sugars" even after receiving the most cutting-edge treatments. The medications improve diabetes control and lessen its consequences, but none of them completely eliminate the danger.
Stem cell-based therapy is intriguing because of this. The hope of stem cell therapy is that it will be possible to get someone to always have normal blood sugar levels, much like the person who didn't have diabetes and eliminate all anticipated short- and long-term consequences.
When insulin, a hormone helps the cells to absorb the blood glucose, becomes deficient then the body cells are not able to absorb the glucose from the blood.
This results in the accumulation of glucose in the blood.
Diabetes is classified into these types:
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) – The pancreatic cells are not able to produce insulin, which leads to an increase in blood glucose level.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) – Glucose absorbing cells become resistant to insulin, or pancreatic cells do not make sufficient insulin, which causes an increase in blood glucose levels.
It can develop in a person of any age but mostly occurs in people >45 years of age.
On a daily basis, an individual may keep getting minor cuts, blisters, bumps, and scratches.
While most people can use this trick to help them get rid of these insignificant wounds; Diabetic people are in the downside here as it takes a long time for them, for these wounds to heal.
Diabetes in itself is a significant health issue known to worsen any simple cuts and scratches and result in a severe condition if not dealt with appropriately.
Most commonly known types of diabetes include the following:
Type 2 Diabetes – Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the processing of blood sugar (glucose) in our body
Type 1 Diabetes- This condition is distinguishable as the one in which the pancreas produces no or very less insulin
