A Canadian nurse has made history by ditching insulin after just one dose of an experimental stem cell therapy, which experts hail as a major breakthrough in the fight against Type 1 diabetes. Amanda Smith, 36, had been battling the chronic autoimmune disease for over a decade.
The treatment involves injecting lab-grown insulin-producing islet cells into the liver, and nearly two years later, Smith remains insulin-free. She credits the therapy with restoring her sense of normalcy after years of constant monitoring and lifestyle adjustments.
Experts are hailing the success as groundbreaking, with Dr. Peter Senior stating that the data shows significant improvements in blood sugar control and reduced risk of severe hypoglycemia. However, not everyone can receive this treatment due to immune system reactions and regulatory hurdles.
The key challenges include the need for powerful immunosuppressants, which carry risks, and the requirement for full FDA approval, which involves costly clinical trials and larger data sets. Nevertheless, experts see enormous potential in this treatment, which could provide a limitless source of cells and transform diabetes care.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/06/23/health/diabetic-woman-no-longer-needs-insulin-after-one-stem-cell-treatment