A novel treatment in China has reversed a woman’s type 1 diabetes using her own cells, the Daily Mail reported.
The monumental cure converted the woman’s own cells into personalized stem cells that were used to grow clusters of fresh “islet” cells that produce insulin in the pancreas and liver.
The 25-year-old from Tianjin now produces her own insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar, allowing her to consume sugar without fear of health complications.
Before the procedure, the patient’s body was unable to produce insulin and she had to take daily injections to stay alive.
Following the treatment, her body has successfully generated insulin now for over a year, marking a significant breakthrough in diabetes treatment.
Globally, type 1 diabetes contributes to a significant number of deaths each year, but it is difficult to estimate a precise figure since deaths often result from complications like heart disease, kidney failure, or infections rather than the condition itself.
However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1.5 million people die annually due to diabetes-related complications, which include both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.