- For a cure for diabetes to be successful, we need three things to happen. We need enough islet cells for everyone living with the condition, and we need a solution that doesn’t require immunosuppressants. We also need transplanted islet cells to be durable and last over time.
- It’s now possible to make islet cells in a laboratory for everyone in the world who has type 1 diabetes, so now we need to address the problems of immunosuppression and durability.
- Researchers are working on different ways to protect the beta cells from attack, with varying levels of success. Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, and Sana Biotechnology are three companies with promising islet cell transplant therapies.
- Islet cell transplant therapies work, and we believe we’ll see a functional cure for diabetes by 2030.
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People have been saying for years that a cure for diabetes is right around the corner. Well, we’ve been waiting to turn that corner for decades (and who are these “people” setting the time frames, anyway? No one knows). We’re still anxiously awaiting a cure, but we’re truly closer now than we’ve ever been.
Before we delve into the latest research, let’s first explain what we need in a cure and why.
What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells that reside in islet cells of the pancreas.
Why does this happen? That’s the million-dollar question – scientists are still trying to figure it out. When beta cells fail, too much sugar builds up in the blood, and people need to take insulin daily to survive.
3 Things We Need to Cure Type 1 Diabetes
Three important things need to happen for a cure for diabetes to be successful:
- We need enough islet cells for everyone on the planet living with type 1 diabetes
- We need a way to give the cells back to patients that doesn’t require immunosuppressant medications
- We need to make sure transplanted islet cells will be durable over time
Solving Problem # 1: Using Stem Cells to Make Islet Cells
Stem cell therapy for type 1 diabetes has evolved significantly in the last decade, moving from cadaver-sourced cells to lab-manufactured stem cells.
Initially, researchers relied on islet cells from deceased organ donors. As you can imagine, this method had huge limitations due to the scarcity of donors and the need for lifelong immunosuppression.
Thanks to years of stem cell research in type 1 diabetes, it’s now possible to make islet cells from stem cells in a laboratory for literally everyone in the world who has type 1 diabetes (Steve and Jeremy first!).
What Are Stem Cells and How Does Stem Cell Therapy Work?
To continue reading this article, please click the following link to go to the TCOYD website: How Close Are We to a Cure for Diabetes? | TCOYD
