There are 537 million people worldwide with diabetes. And that number continues to grow.
When people have type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells of the pancreas that make insulin. These cells regulate blood sugar levels, which the body needs energy. People with type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin for the rest of their lives because blood sugar levels continue to rise without insulin.
However, over the last two decades, significant advances in stem cell research and treatment have revealed promising ways to create the new insulin-producing cells needed to treat type 1 diabetes.
Biotechnology company Vertex Pharmaceuticals recently launched a clinical trial planning to treat 17 participants with type 1 diabetes with new insulin-producing cells derived from stem cells. Brian Shelton, the first patient in the trial, gave positive results. After 150 days, Shelton was able to reduce the amount of insulin injected by 92%.
Other global companies such as ViaCyte, CRISPR, and Novo Nordisk, one of the world’s largest insulin makers, are also working on the treatment of diabetes.
Watch the video to hear how stem cell therapy has changed Shelton’s life and what other diabetes treatments are being developed.