By: Kristen Falik
About Stem Cells
Stem cells circulate through our bloodstream throughout our lifetime. Their job is to flow to an area that needs repair. This can include rebuilding tissue, making repairs, and restoring the overall health of the area of the organ or tissue.
About Diabetes:
When we digest, the food gets broken down into fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. The carbohydrates get turned into glucose which provides energy for the body. The cells of the pancreas need to provide good amounts of insulin in order for the glucose to move through our bloodstream to allow energy for our body. This also means that the receptors on our cells need to be able to recognize the insulin. The difference between Type I and Type 2 diabetes is that in Type 1 there are no insulin-producing cells located in the pancreas where in Type 2 the receptors on our cells to detect insulin are worn out and later the pancreas stops producing insulin. This causes glucose to build up in the bloodstream.
How This Can Help Those With Type I or Type 2 Diabetes
Stem cells can be found all throughout the body, but are stored in certain areas of the body such as bone marrow and the fatty layer beneath our skin. If the stem cells are harvested they can adapt to be applied where needed. So a disease that involves tissue degeneration can be treated with stem cell injections. For diabetes, this can provide treatment. For Type 1 diabetes, stem cells can be injected into the patient so they will migrate to the damaged tissue in change into b-cells to maintain a normal level of b-cells in the body. Another way is for the stem cells to be lab-grown to become insulin-producing cells to replace the depleted cells in the body. Since b-cells are still present in Type 2 diabetes, the added b-cells can be used to overcome the insulin resistance in the patient. This can maintain the levels of the cells beyond the needed amount in order to combat insulin resistance. Additional treatment is required to make sure the body reacts normally to the new cells and to maintain normal glucose levels permanently.
Three Main Benefits:
To repair and regenerate any damaged tissue in the nerves, blood vessels, pancreas, or kidneys. After the stem cell therapy, noticeable improvements in glucose regulation and kidney function were noted in the patients.
Anti-inflammatory benefits were studied through the body as a result of stem cell therapy. This is excellent news because inflammation can lead to chronic illnesses and damage to our cardiovascular system as well as diabetes-related heart diseases.
This therapy for diabetes can help to regulate the immune system that relates to the lack of glucose control. The large impact of diabetes on the immune system makes patients more susceptible to infections. This is why with coronavirus vaccine rollouts people who suffer from diabetes will get the vaccine earlier. With stem cells, many patients don’t need insulin injections as often, experience an increase in their energy levels, and have better glycemic control.
Do you or someone you know suffer from diabetes? If you or someone you know is interested, check out the resources listed below to fill out a form or contact someone to learn more to see if you may be a qualified candidate.