- April 14, 2022
- By admin
Stem cells are now supposed to revolutionise the Diabetes management
Do you know what causes Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease in which blood sugar levels are not regulated. Glucose is a vital source of energy for the human body. It is an important source of energy for all the muscles tissues as well as the brain cells. The food that we consume is converted to glucose in the liver and then supplied to other body parts through the bloodstream. The glucose levels in the bloodstream are regulated by the insulin hormone secreted by the pancreas. The insulin hormone mediates the release of glucose from the bloodstream to the target organ where it is used as an energy source. In diabetes, the insulin is either not synthesized in a sufficient amount or not utilized in an appropriate amount. Due to this, the blood sugar levels rise giving rise to diabetes disease. Diabetes Mellitus is classified into two types depending on the physiology of the disease. When the proper amount of glucose is not supplied to the body organs it results in starvation and high levels of glucose can also damage the cells. In type 1 diabetes, β-cells of the pancreas do not produce enough insulin. In type 2 diabetes there is insulin resistance developed and β-pancreatic cells dysfunction. It is a metabolic and endocrine disorder. Diabetes is a chronic disease that has hampered the lifestyle and economy of the population. The complications arising from diabetes management are leading to physical, mental, and economical imbalances in several families.
Why stem cells are gaining importance?
The cells that have the potential to differentiate in any type of cell are known as stem cells. The stem cells are of two types embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. The stem cells are raw cells that proliferate to generate daughter cells that are differentiated and specialized. They have immense potential and regenerating capacity because of this, they can be used in several treatments. The stem cells hold the ability to restore the diseased, dysfunctional or injured tissue. Stem cell therapy has a great future in therapeutics. Bone marrow transplant is the most commonly used stem cell therapy. The growing incidence of chronic disease has given rise to advancements in stem cell therapy and it is now gaining importance. According to market research, the global stem cell market is expected to grow from $ 11.59 billion in 2021 to $ 12.72 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. Though the low acceptance of stem cell therapy is creating resistance to its applications, people have at least started gaining knowledge of it. The researchers have derived insulin-producing cells from human pluripotent stem cells. Stem cells therapy holds immense potential in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The ability of stem cells to differentiate into islet cells of pancreases is defined. This research has been a boon for diabetes management.
Stem cells are now used in diabetes management
Diabetes is becoming the most common chronic disease worldwide. The American Diabetes Association has reported that around 7.8% of the United States population, including children and adults, are suffering from diabetes. Diabetes management with medication or insulin injection is a very tedious treatment traditionally used. The standard treatment for type 1 diabetes is by supplementing insulin through injections or insulin pumps. The researchers are currently looking forward to minimising these complications for the regulation of insulin levels in the body. The stem cell therapy for curing diabetes is now under process. The stem cells differentiating to form the insulin-producing islet cells of the pancreas are now identified. The clinical trials conducted to investigate the efficiency of stem cells in diabetes cure has proven that the patients can have balanced glucose levels for several months without insulin. The stem cell therapy helps to generate the islet cells that secret insulin hormone and maintain the blood glucose levels. Stem cells can be revolutionary therapeutics for the future since the excessive use of antibiotics is leading to resistance. It is necessary to create awareness about stem cell therapy so that it becomes more acceptable.
References:
- Black, E. (2022, March 26). Stem cells may finally offer a cure for Type 1 diabetes. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/26/stem-cells-may-finally-offer-a-cure-for-type-1-diabetes.html
- Diabetes. (n.d.). A Closer Look at Stem Cells. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://www.closerlookatstemcells.org/stem-cells-medicine/diabetes/
- Siddiqui, A. A., Siddiqui, S. A., Ahmad, S., Siddiqui, S., Ahsan, I., & Sahu, K. (n.d.). Diabetes: Mechanism, Pathophysiology and Management-A Review. International Journal of Drug Development and Research, 5(2), 0–0.
- Zang, L., Hao, H., Liu, J., Li, Y., Han, W., & Mu, Y. (2017). Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, 9(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-017-0233-1