Revolutionizing Diabetes Care: Top Stem Cell Treatment for Diabetes in India

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by the destruction of β pancreatic cells, resulting in insufficient insulin production. Generally, a decrease in insulin production alters blood glucose levels. Globally, DM affects about 200 million people.

Type 1 DM occurs due to autoimmune destruction of β pancreatic cells producing insulin, whereas type 2 DM occurs due to insulin resistance and altered insulin secretion. Moreover, both types result in inadequate insulin levels, which leads to hyperglycemia.

According to WHO, an estimated 77 million adults in India have Diabetes, and almost 25 million people are at risk of developing Diabetes, i.e., they are pre-diabetic.

Why the need for stem cell therapy arises in Diabetes Mellitus

1. Conventional treatment options focus on managing the condition rather than treating it. 
2. The necessity to take the existing therapies for the rest of the life.
3. Long-term dependency on insulin.
4. Surgical options are painful and often carry the risk of complications.
5. The invasive strategy, i.e., islet transplantation, increases the life-long requirement of immunosuppressants.
6. With the transplantation, the risk for graft rejections also increases.

Stem Cell Therapy in Diabetes Mellitus

In an era where conventional treatment options do not provide a cure for the disease, Diabetes stem cell treatment in India is transforming the management of Diabetes by its regenerative potential.

1. The initial and most important role of stem cells in the management of Diabetes is differentiation into insulin-producing cells.
2. They secrete various molecules, such as chemokines, and regulate fibrosis.
3. Stem cells also release Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor, which enhances the formation of newer blood vessels.
4. They also modulate the immune system by decreasing the pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and maturation of dendritic cells and enhancing the levels of regulatory T cells by HGF, nitric oxide, and TGF-β production.

Role of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in Diabetes

The leading role of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of Diabetes is to target the underlying disease cause.

1. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) travel to the site of damage and differentiate into specialized types of pancreatic islet cells capable of producing insulin.
2. They stimulate the repair and regeneration of damaged pancreatic β cells.
3. They enhance the production of insulin, thereby improving glycemic control and reducing insulin dependency.
4. In addition to the above functions, MSCs also reduce c-peptide levels, resulting in lower blood glucose levels.
5. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) also modulate immune response and restore immune balance by modifying pro-inflammatory cytokines to anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Perks of Stem Cell Therapy in Diabetes

1. Reduction of blood glucose levels
2. Regulated HbA1c levels
3. Enhancement of metabolism
4. Decrease of insulin demand
5. Controlled patterns of sleep
6. And overall improvement of the condition.

Stem cell therapy in the treatment of Diabetic Complications

SCT is not only useful in treating Diabetes but also in treating diabetic complications.

Erectile Dysfunction:

Stem cells improve erectile functions by differentiating into myoblastic cells, which further differentiate into vascular smooth muscle cells, leading to the repair of damaged vascular tissue. They increase the levels of growth factors and decrease inflammatory levels. 

Stem cells also enhance angiogenesis and promote neovascularization by stimulating the release of angiogenic factors such as SDF-1, fibroblast growth factor, and VEGF. In addition to angiogenesis, stem cells also reduce fibrosis and modulate the process of autophagy, resulting in the improvement of erectile functions.

Diabetic Foot Ulcer: 

When we incorporate stem cells for the treatment of diabetic foot, they travel to the wound site. After migration, they differentiate into cells which helps in the regeneration and restoration of damaged tissue. 

When the stem cells are incorporated, they not only regenerate into new tissue but also produce certain factors for growth and cytokines. The released substances promote angiogenesis. The net result is the reduction of scarring and inflammation and enhanced angiogenesis.

Diabetic Nephropathy:

Mesenchymal exosomes deliver therapeutic molecules such as miRNAs to decrease podocyte damage. They also stimulate the release of Vascular endothelial growth factor – A (VEGF-A) in order to protect from higher glucose levels and protect renal function. 

MSC exosomes contain factors such as hepatocyte growth factor, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and VEGF, and it also inhibits TGF β 1, which reduces fibrosis and exerts anti-inflammatory effects.

Diabetic Retinopathy:

MSC exosomes promote the regeneration of retinal cells. They reduce inflammatory cytokine levels and down-regulate the expression of NF-kappaB/P65 protein, High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and NLRP3, resulting in inhibition of retinal apoptosis.

Diabetic Cardiomyopathy:

In Diabetic Cardiomyopathy, MSC exosomes inhibit myocardial cell apoptosis, reduce myocardial fibrosis, and result in significant improvement in cardiac functions.

Incorporation of Nano Medicine technology with Stem Cell

Nanomedicine is a technology designed and intended to deliver therapeutic molecules with the help of carriers at specific sites.

It is possible to create novel and innovative therapies for the treatment of Diabetes by combining the preciseness and accuracy of Nanomedicine with the regenerative ability of stem cells. The use of nanocarriers for precise delivery of stem cells to the pancreas enhances the therapeutic effectiveness of the stem cells and attenuates off-target effects in Diabetes.

One such example of nanomedicine in the treatment of Diabetes lies in smart insulin delivery systems. In this system, the nanoparticles are engineered with insulin, and they tend to mimic the action of healthy β cells by releasing insulin whenever glucose concentration changes.

In another case, in order to stimulate and enhance the process of regeneration and repair, exosomes can be chemically engineered with nanocarriers to deliver signaling molecules and essential materials.

What do the clinical trials suggest about stem cell therapy?

Multiple clinical trials determine the safety and efficacy of stem cells in Diabetes Mellitus.

1. A systematic review and meta-analysis of metabolomics-based risks and benefits of SCT for diabetic patients suggest that SCT in type 1 DM improves HbA1c levels and c-peptide levels. Similarly, the review suggests that SCT in type 2 DM improves HbA1c levels and insulin requirements.
2. Phase I/II randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial in newly diagnosed type 1 DM patients involving mesenchymal stem cell transplantation reports that MSC transplantation led to improvement of HbA1c levels. The MSCs also increased regulatory T cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines and led to overall improvement in quality of life.

Diabetes stem cell treatment outcomes
1.	Reduction of HbA1c levels
2.	Decreased insulin dependency
3.	Kidney’s functional capacity improvement
4.	Improvement of hormonal imbalance
5.	Improvement in mental and physical strength
6.	Enhanced survival functions

Conclusion

Diabetes Mellitus is a growing concern, and stem cell treatment is developing as a new potential option for the treatment of Diabetes both globally and in India. Stem cell therapy is indeed revolutionizing Diabetes care by its ability to regenerate. The benefits of stem cells are not only limited to reducing blood glucose levels but also regenerating insulin-producing cells.

Therefore, stem cell treatment for Diabetes in India and across the globe has the potential to pave the way and transform the healthcare industry in the regenerative medicine field.

FAQs

Q: Define Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by the destruction of β pancreatic cells, resulting in insufficient insulin production. Generally, a decrease in insulin production alters blood glucose levels.

Q: How is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus different from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?

Type 1 DM occurs due to autoimmune destruction of β pancreatic cells producing insulin, whereas type 2 DM occurs due to insulin resistance and altered insulin secretion. Moreover, both types result in inadequate insulin levels, which lead to hyperglycemia.

Q: What are the perks of stem cells for Diabetes type 1 in India?

The perks of SCT in Diabetes are reduction of blood glucose levels, regulated HbA1c levels, enhancement of metabolism, decrease of insulin demand, controlled patterns of sleep and overall improvement of the condition.

Q: What is the role of stem cell therapy in Diabetes Mellitus?

Stem cells differentiate into insulin-producing cells; they secrete various molecules, such as chemokines, and regulate fibrosis. They also release Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor, which enhances the formation of newer blood vessels.