Chinese researchers have achieved a potential breakthrough in diabetes treatment, reportedly curing a patient’s type 2 diabetes with cell therapy for the first time. The 59-year-old man had battled the disease for 25 years and relied on daily insulin after complications arose from a kidney transplant in 2017.
Yin Hao, a leading researcher at Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, pointed out the severity of the patient’s condition due to his damaged pancreatic islet cells, which are crucial for blood sugar regulation.
In a groundbreaking development, the patient received a cell transplant in July 2021, leading to significant improvements. Just eleven weeks later, he no longer needed external insulin. Over the following year, his oral medication was gradually reduced and eventually stopped entirely.
Follow-up examinations confirmed the successful restoration of his pancreatic islet function, allowing him to remain insulin-free for an impressive 33 months. This promising research, conducted by a team from Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, the Centre for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, and Renji Hospital, was published in the journal Cell Discovery on April 30th. Professor Timothy Kieffer of the University of British Columbia lauded the study as a major advancement in cell therapy for diabetes.