Growing Diabetes Burden in India
What if Diabetes care shifted beyond routine management and focused on complete regeneration?
Diabetes prevalence in India is reported to be 89.8 million in 2024, with an estimated rise to 156.7 million by the end of 2050. WHO estimated approximately 77 million individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), and 25 million are prediabetic. While Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is rising by 3-5% every year in India.
The current scenario reflects the great concern with rising cases of both T1DM and T2DM affecting millions of individuals in India.
Understanding Diabetes: T1DM & T2DM
Diabetes is often called a lifestyle disorder that usually introduces metabolic changes in the individual’s body. It occurs when pancreatic Beta islet cells (β-cells) cannot produce sufficient insulin or the body cannot utilize the insulin produced in the body. This results in dysregulated, altered glucose levels in the body. The primary types of Diabetes include:
- T1DM: T1DM is often called juvenile Diabetes when β-cells present in Langerhans of the pancreas fail to produce insulin. This type of Diabetes is independent of metabolic mechanisms. This leads to a spike in glycemic index in the blood, while cells remain devoid of glucose. T1DM can be an autoimmune disease where the body destroys its own β-cells or can be genetic.
- T2DM: T2DM is a metabolic disorder where the body has a compromised ability to use insulin (insulin resistance), resulting in high blood sugar. T2DM is often called adult-onset Diabetes as it primarily affects older adults.
Common Symptoms
Common symptoms of Diabetes include:
- Thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Blurred vision
- Slow healing of cuts or sores
- Frequent infection or numbness and tingling effects
Treatment for T1DM & T2DM
The standard management recommended for the management of T1DM and T2DM including a healthy diet and regular physical activities. While specific treatment recommended based on diabetes type includes:
- T1DM: Usually recommended with insulin injection or insulin pumps. Frequent check of blood sugar level and carbohydrate intake counting.
- T2DM: Recommended with lifestyle changes and oral medications like metformin, SGLT2, etc. In severe cases, insulin injection or shorts are recommended.
*NOTE: The treatment recommended for both T1DM and T2DM focuses on symptom management rather than cure. Such limitations emphasise an urgent need for regenerative therapy that results in the reversal of the disease process.
Stem Cell Therapy: Regenerative approach for Diabetes
Stem cell treatment induces the self-renewal properties including differentiation into pancreatic beta cells. The new cells possess the ability to regularly check the blood sugar level in the body. Stem cell therapy has multifold action in curing Diabetes, including:
- Regeneration of Beta-cell
- Identification of damaged cells and replacing them with new cells
- Stem Cell Treatment for Diabetes in India uses the patient’s own fat cells to isolate stem cells, hence possesses negligible risk for immune rejection.
- Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties
Diabetes Stem Cell Treatment- Current Scenario
Currently, though stem cell therapy for Diabetes is not FDA approved, yet specialised clinicians recommend it for their greater potential and safe option for treating Diabetes. Researchers have found success in producing new beta cells that can potentially regulate insulin production and glucose levels in the body.
Adult stem cells (ADSs) are multipotent cells that can potentially differentiate into more than 20 other tissue types. They release various essential macromolecules and micromolecules required for new cell generation, like proteins, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, vitamins and minerals. ADSs can be procured from an adult’s own fat cells, hence have a limited possibility of immune rejection.
As the pathophysiology of T1DM and T2DM is distinct, hence Diabetes stem cell treatment modality can differ.
Type 1 Diabetes Stem Cell Treatment in India: The Success Story
Type 1 Diabetes Stem Cell Treatment efficiently offers a transformative solution by regenerating beta cells in the pancreas. Introduction of treatment at an early stage enables complete replacement of medication and insulin therapy.
In India, the success of Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes has already created history. A pediatric surgeon, Dr Sagar Jawale, from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India, used the patient’s own fat cells for isolating and culturing stem cells. Using fat cells over bone marrow for stem cells has a subsequent advantage:
Fat cells consist of 3000 times more stem cells in comparison with bone marrow. Procuring fat cells is less complicated than comparison bone marrow
Dr Jawale isolated stem cells for treating his patient with T1DM. Not only was the treatment a success, but he could significantly reduce the cost of the therapy. Generally, stem cell therapy incurs Rs 30 lac in the USA and Rs 5 lac in India. However, by using the patient’s own stem cells, Dr Jawale reduced the therapy cost between Rs 75,000 to 90,000.
This marked a remarkable milestone, opening the door to curative treatment for people belonging to diverse economic backgrounds.
Type 2 Diabetes Stem Cell Treatment in India
T2DM treatment incurs a different approach where direct infusion of stem cells into the pancreas is suitable. Dr Sagar Jawale also performed the first-ever intrapancreatic stem cell transfusion for T2DM. The patient was 20-year-old with 450 blood sugar and used 50 units of insulin for 6 weeks. During this duration sugar level dropped from 450 to 150.
Stem cell therapy is effective as stem cells injected into the bloodstream reach the target organ; however, only 2% of the blood supply reaches the pancreas, which means only 2% of the stem cells.
Hence, undertaking a radiological approach, Dr Kiran Patil cannulated the pancreatic artery for stem cell infusion directly into the pancreas. For isolating stem cells, a patient’s own bone marrow cells were used, which were transplanted in 3 hours. The process enabled the introduction of 90-95% of stem cells into the pancreas.
With single implantation, the blood sugar level dropped steadily for up to 2 years. The cost of the therapy was Rs 90,000, while the therapy cost Rs 50 lac in the USA.
Advantages of Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes
There are several advantages associated with stem cell therapy for Diabetes, including:
- Potential reduction in insulin dependence
- Improved blood sugar regulation
- Regeneration of pancreatic function
- Enhanced quality of life
Clinical Evidences & Care Instructions
The breakthrough of Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes through successful, yet is at early-phase clinical trial. Though no stem cell therapy is yet FDA approved, specialised clinicians and clinics highly recommend the treatment.
However, individuals opting for stem cell therapy must consider the following recommendations:
- Consult well-reputed clinicians or a clinic for undertaking stem cell therapy.
- Clear discussion about the patient’s current health conditions and expected outcomes
- The result of stem cell therapy varies; hence, beware of any specialist or clinics claiming 100% success.
- Transparency related to the overall cost of the treatment
- The clinic offering treatment with procured stem cells must use superior-quality stem cells.
Advancells, India, is a leading manufacturer of stem cells that follows stringent guidelines for the production of superior quality stem cells.
India: As an Emerging Hub for Stem Cell Treatment for Diabetes
- Advanced regenerative medicine centres
- Skilled clinicians and standardised protocols
- Cost advantages compared to Western countries
- Regulatory framework (ICMR/clinical guidelines)
Future of Diabetes Stem Cell Therapy
Currently, the success of Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes in T1DM and T2DM has shown a paradigm shift in diabetes treatment. The successful application of stem cell therapy, cost-effectively, definitely paves the way for intense research and large-scale implementation. Further, clinical trials warrant validating the current findings.
With Stem cell therapy the future seems bright, where a society free from diabetes burden can be achieved.
Diabetes Patient Success Stories
FAQ’s:
Q- Can diabetes be completely cured?
No, the conventional treatment helps with management of diabetes. With a restrictive diet and regular exercise along with medication or insulin therapy one can manage blood sugar level.
Q- What are other diseases that are triggered with diabetes?
There are various diseases that are triggered with diabetes including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney failure, skin issue, dementia, oral problems and hearing loss.
Q- How stem cell therapy helps with diabetes treatment?
Stem cell therapy replaces the damaged beta cells and regenerates new cells that aid in sufficient insulin production. Stem cell therapy is curative, that is, addresses the root cause of the problem, rather than just managing it. Presence of sufficient insulin in blood control glycemic spike.
Q- Can stem cell therapy treat both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
Yes, stem cell therapy can treat both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. However, the strategy of applying stem cell therapy might be different because of different pathophysiology in diabetes subtypes.
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