Diabetes mellitus type 1 could be treated with a new form of stem cell therapy, new research suggests. According to HealthDay News, scientists with the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami say the treatment helps to re-educate dysfunctional immune system cells and eventually allows the pancreas to begin to produce insulin again.
Although the study only involved 15 people, researchers feel very positive about the prospects for the new treatment. By combining the patients’ immune system cells with stem cells from the cord blood of a donor, even people with long-standing diabetes saw benefits. Average blood sugar levels dropped off significantly, and the amount of insulin required by each patient was lowered.
“Our study brings a new hope for people with type 1 diabetes,” said Dr. Yong Zhao. “If we can control the autoimmunity, we may reverse the diabetes. We showed that the [cells] can start to work again.”
HealthDay noted that if the treatment proves to be successful, scientists may have a jumpstart on finding similar treatments for diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
The treatment works by taking blood from a patient and extracting the immune system cells, called lymphocytes. Then, by exposing the cells to stem cells from umbilical cord blood, the lymphocytes “relearn” how to behave properly. The cells are then returned to the patient’s body. This approach to treating diabetes is entirely new, HealthDay said.
