A 36-year-old Canadian woman, Amanda Smith, has made history by becoming the first person to be cured of type 1 diabetes through liver stem cell implants. After receiving a single dose of manufactured stem cells, Smith’s body is now able to produce its own insulin, rendering her dependent on glucose monitors and insulin shots obsolete.
Smith’s journey began when she was diagnosed with late-onset juvenile diabetes at the age of 25. The condition requires constant maintenance and can significantly reduce one’s lifespan. However, after enrolling in a groundbreaking stem cell study, Smith experienced a remarkable transformation.
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved implanting special embryonic stem cells into the liver, which transformed into hormone-producing cells that secrete insulin. Out of 12 participants, 10 were able to stop needing insulin shots for at least a year, with some even experiencing spontaneous remission.
While the results are remarkable, there is a catch: patients must take immune-suppressing medications to prevent their bodies from rejecting the implanted cells, making them more susceptible to illness. Smith, who recently celebrated her two-year implant-iversary, believes that the benefits of the treatment far outweigh the risks.
“Taking a couple of pills three times a day is nothing,” she said of her medication regimen. “It’s easy.” However, the long-term implications of immunosuppression are still being researched, and scientists are working to develop stem cell implants that the body will not reject.
Source: https://futurism.com/neoscope/diabetic-woman-stem-cells-insulin