Scientists may have found a cure for type 1 diabetes with stem cells – BGR

Stem cell research may be controversial, but it offers incredible perspectives in the treatment of many long-term incurable diseases. Type 1 diabetes is the latest target of scientists working with stem cells. A new study reveals that it is possible to convert stem cells into cells capable of producing insulin, thus opening the way to a cure.

Scientists are quickly striving to replace insulin-producing cells in people with type 1 diabetes. In diabetic patients, these cells are often destroyed when the person is young, which forces them to monitor their blood sugar levels. in the blood and to take insulin to manage the disease.

However, if scientists can reliably create replacement cells doing the same work as previously destroyed cells, it could revolutionize the treatment of type 1 diabetes and potentially even cure the disease.

"We can now generate insulin-producing cells that look and act much like the pancreatic beta cells that you and I have in our body," said Matthias Hebrok, senior author of the University of California at San Francisco, in a statement. "This is a critical step toward our goal of creating cells that could be transplanted into diabetic patients."

Stem cells are incredibly versatile because of their ability to be converted into other types of human cells. They look like a blank slate that can take on a variety of forms and functions, which is extremely beneficial to researchers who are tackling human diseases.

Previous research aimed at transforming stem cells into insulin-producing cells has suffered setbacks when cells have not reached maturity. "The cells that we produced, as well as others, were stuck at an immature stage where they were not able to respond properly to blood glucose and secrete insulin properly," Hebrok explained.

Using a new technique, the team was able to develop mature cells able to respond to blood glucose in the same way as the cells of people without type 1 diabetes. The research is still ongoing, but it is great news.

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