“Game-Changer: Woman Reverses Type 1 Diabetes with Her Own Stem Cells”

Christel Payseng
7 min readJan 18, 2025

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In a world-first medical achievement, a 25-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes has successfully reversed her condition using insulin-producing cells derived from her own reprogrammed stem cells. Within three months of the transplant, she began producing insulin independently and has remained injection-free for over a year. This life-changing procedure has allowed her to enjoy foods she once avoided, including sugar and hotpot.

Reported in Nature, this groundbreaking treatment was led by transplant surgeon James Shapiro, who hailed the procedure as a complete reversal of her diabetes, a condition that previously required substantial insulin doses.

The innovation isn’t limited to type 1 diabetes. In Shanghai, a 59-year-old man with type 2 diabetes achieved similar results. After receiving islets created from his stem cells, he no longer needs insulin therapy.

These landmark cases highlight the transformative potential of stem cell-based therapies in treating diabetes. By creating a virtually unlimited supply of insulin-producing tissue, these treatments may eliminate the reliance on donor organs and reduce the need for lifelong immunosuppressants. This breakthrough signals a future where diabetes management could shift from ongoing treatment to permanent solutions.

Reprogrammed Cells Revolutionize Diabetes Treatment
Deng Hongkui and his team at Peking University reprogrammed cells from three people with type 1 diabetes into a pluripotent state, enabling them to develop into any cell type. Using a modified method with small molecules for better control, they created 3D clusters of insulin-producing islets. In June 2023, about 1.5 million islets were transplanted into a woman’s abdominal muscles, a safer alternative to liver transplants, allowing for MRI monitoring and easy removal if needed. The procedure took less than 30 minutes.

Insulin-Free Breakthrough
Two and a half months after her transplant, a woman with type 1 diabetes began producing insulin independently and has maintained stable blood sugar levels for over a year. While researchers like Daisuke Yabe call the results “remarkable,” experts like Jay Skyler emphasize the need for more trials and longer observation to confirm lasting success. Deng Hongkui noted that two other participants in the trial are also progressing well, but challenges remain, including preventing autoimmune attacks on the new cells.

Advancing Diabetes Treatments
While using a patient’s own cells shows promise, scaling this approach is challenging. To address this, trials using donor stem cells are underway. Vertex Pharmaceuticals reported success with donor islet cell transplants, enabling some participants to stop insulin injections. New trials aim to improve outcomes, including devices that protect transplanted cells without immunosuppressants and innovative methods like islet cell sheets planned for testing next year.

Promising Stem Cell Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes
A Brazilian study involving 21 adults with type 1 diabetes found that stem cell infusions helped most patients manage the disease, with many remaining insulin-free for about three and a half years and one patient achieving insulin independence for eight years. While the results highlight the potential of stem cell transplants, the treatment did not work for everyone, as some patients saw minimal improvement.

Similarly, the VX-880 clinical trial is testing a stem cell-derived therapy for type 1 diabetes patients with severe hypoglycemia. Early results are encouraging: two patients who received a half dose showed restored insulin production, with one becoming insulin-independent. Five more patients are now receiving the full dose, with data being collected, and a total of ten patients will eventually be treated. The trial demonstrates the potential for stem cell therapies to restore insulin production and improve blood sugar control, with a manageable safety profile.

Stem Cells 101: Your Body’s Built-In Superheroes

Stem cells are like tiny superheroes within your body, working around the clock to repair and regenerate tissue. These cells are incredibly powerful because they can transform into any type of cell needed, whether it’s for your heart, skin, or even your organs.

Every day, stem cells help heal injuries, fight off diseases, and keep your body functioning smoothly. They’re constantly on the lookout for damaged cells and fix them before problems get worse. This is why stem cells are so crucial for your overall health, working quietly in the background to keep you feeling your best.

Stem Cells: Your Body’s Incredible Repairmen

Stem cells are like blank-slate cells with the extraordinary ability to transform into any specialized cell your body needs. When parts of your body — like heart muscle or knee cartilage — are damaged, stem cells step in and work their magic.

For example, if your heart muscle is hurt, stem cells can turn into healthy new heart cells. Similarly, if your knee cartilage is damaged, they can become fresh cartilage. These amazing cells are universal repairmen, patrolling every corner of your body, always ready to fix whatever is broken.

It may sound miraculous, but the power of stem cells to heal and regenerate is exactly that: a miracle in action. And it’s only getting more amazing!

Stem Cells & The Aging Reset:
The 3 Most Powerful Anti-Aging Stem Cells

Meet the Warriors of the Stem Cell World

In the stem cell world, there are specialists with unique abilities — think of them as the warriors who come to your rescue when things get tough.

Let’s meet them now…

Warrior #1: Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)

Mesenchymal stem cells are the builders of your body. Found in your bone marrow, they’re multipotent, meaning they can transform into various types of cells as needed.

MSCs are essential for maintaining and repairing your body’s structure, including bones, cartilage, tendons, muscles, the brain, pancreas, and more. They play a crucial role in healthy aging and controlling inflammation, making them vital for long-term health.

These warrior cells also boost immunity, acting as your body’s “immune gatekeepers” by helping fight off threats and suppressing prolonged inflammation. MSCs can even transform into brain cells, aiding in cognitive function, memory, and focus.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) make it possible to grow new brain cells, which was once thought impossible. They also help refresh your body’s supply of healthy, young cells. For instance, your lungs regenerate every two to three weeks, your colon is renewed every three days, and your skin gets a fresh layer in just 14 days. However, by age 65, your stem cells decrease by 90%, slowing down healing. The good news is, we now know how to boost your stem cell count as you age.

As we get older, the new cells our body creates aren’t as strong as the original ones, like photocopies that lose quality each time. MSCs help by ensuring that dying cells are replaced quickly and with healthy new ones, which is vital for longevity. They also improve the speed at which brain signals travel by enhancing the myelin sheath, the layer around nerve fibers. Additionally, MSCs help repair damaged blood vessels in the brain’s cerebrum, which controls movement, emotions, learning, and much more. New research shows that certain nutrients can increase your MSCs by 21% in just two hours, offering a way to support your body’s repair systems.

Warrior #2: Endothelial Stem Cells (ESCs)

Imagine taking a journey inside your blood vessels. The walls would be smooth and shiny, stretching far and wide, while groups of endothelial stem cells (ESCs) work tirelessly around the clock. These cells are always on the lookout, repairing blood vessels, replacing cells, and reducing pressure on your heart and brain.

ESCs play a vital role in maintaining your vascular health. Your endothelium, a thin layer of cells covering your blood vessels, is crucial for controlling blood flow and blood pressure. It produces nitric oxide, helping blood vessels expand for smoother, less strained circulation. This leads to a healthier heart, brain, and organs — and even better sexual health for men. ESCs are essential for supporting and maintaining your vascular system’s well-being.

Just ask Lourdes Duque Baron- She tried it!

Lourdes Duque Baron’s story is nothing short of legendary. Once faced with the debilitating grip of osteoporosis, she defied the odds and transformed her life through groundbreaking stem cell therapy, emerging stronger and more unstoppable than ever.

What seemed impossible became her triumph, as she rewrote her own fate and shattered the limitations of aging. Now, she lives a life that echoes the extraordinary — writing powerful books, doing humanitarian work, filming a movie, recording a new album — and showing the world that with unwavering determination, nothing is beyond reach.

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A 5 Part series highlighting the power and amazing opportunities emerging within the groundbreaking research and application of Stem Cells. Featuring Clint Jung

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Christel Payseng
Christel Payseng

Written by Christel Payseng

Writer, PR Media, Literature Hobbyists, Digital Marketer

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