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CCTV: Could Diabetes, a Condition That Has Tormented Patients for Years, Finally Be "Cured"? Stem Cell Therapy Shows Remarkable Success
来源：CCTV-10
2020-12-15
When it comes to diabetes, people are no longer strangers to the topic.
On average, one in every 10 people around us suffers from diabetes—it’s rapidly emerging as one of the biggest health challenges facing modern society. And as the prevalence continues to rise year after year, diabetes has now become the third leading cause of health threats to humanity, following cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
However, despite China being a major diabetes-prone country with a large number of patients, there is currently no effective cure. Existing treatments can only help manage complications, and medical researchers are actively working to develop innovative therapies that will finally free patients from the relentless suffering caused by diabetes.
With a growing number of successful and effective cases worldwide demonstrating the potential of stem cell therapy in treating diseases, stem cells have emerged as a promising new approach to diabetes treatment—joining surgery and pharmaceuticals as innovative solutions. CCTV recently reported on two remarkable success stories of stem cell therapy for diabetes, offering a glimpse into the incredible potential of this cutting-edge technology in revolutionizing how we manage the disease.
Case 1: Stem Cells "Cured" My 9-Year-Old Diabetes
One afternoon in 2003, Mr. Li, who had unfortunately been involved in a car accident, was rushed to the hospital by ambulance for treatment. While the injuries from the crash weren’t life-threatening, his diabetes nearly cost him his life.
It turns out Mr. Li has been living with diabetes for nine years. The complications of his condition have left him in constant agony—his eyes are so swollen they seem ready to burst at any moment, and his legs remain icy cold even in summer. Meanwhile, his blood pressure fluctuates wildly alongside his ever-changing blood sugar levels, while his weight has dropped from 90 kg to 70 kg.
Mr. Li, who was already suffering severe physical and emotional trauma, unfortunately suffered a car accident at the same time, causing his blood sugar to spike dramatically. This triggered a hyperglycemic coma on the spot—and for Mr. Li, maintaining stable blood sugar levels now became a matter of life or death.
In a critical moment, the hospital’s endocrinology department swiftly administered insulin injections to Mr. Li. While this temporarily stabilized his blood sugar levels, Mr. Li knew full well that his diabetes remained incurable. Having already tried countless treatments—some costing millions—he had become an expert through years of battling the disease. Determined to finally conquer diabetes, he was resolved to find a solution.
By a lucky chance, Mr. Li learned that the hospital was conducting clinical trials for stem-cell transplantation as a treatment for diabetes—and without hesitation, he chose to participate. Little did he know that this one bold decision would ultimately transform the second half of his life.
Less than a month after the surgery, Mr. Li completely stopped insulin injections and finally managed to free himself from the diabetes that had plagued him for nine long years.
After being cured, Mr. Li even stepped up as a volunteer advocate, helping more fellow patients overcome the challenges of diabetes. It was through his introduction that Ms. Li received stem-cell therapy—and just like Mr. Li, her life was forever transformed as a result.
Case Two: Completely Stopping Medication, Stem Cells Help Me Reclaim a Beautiful Life
Ms. Li is an avid calligraphy and painting enthusiast, but in recent years, diabetes has forced her to put her more than 20-year-long artistic career on hold.
Eight years of diabetes have led to complications in her eyes, heart, and limbs—ranging from mild to severe. Not only is painting out of the question, but even daily tasks have become incredibly challenging for her. Moreover, due to her long-term medication regimen, her stomach and liver have also suffered varying degrees of damage.
Finally, a sudden spike in her blood sugar landed her in the hospital. A fellow patient in her room shared with her that stem cells might offer a treatment for diabetes—but Ms. Li remained skeptical and was reluctant to believe that stem-cell therapy could lead to positive outcomes for her condition.
By a lucky chance, Mr. Li shared his own medical journey with Ms. Li, which began to shake her lingering doubts. Adding to this, the complications from her diabetes had already become unbearable. After hearing her doctor explain the potential of stem-cell technology, driven by a glimmer of hope, Ms. Li finally decided to undergo the stem-cell transplant.
Unexpectedly, the stem cell transplant turned out to be surprisingly simple— the procedure took just half an hour, and as Ms. Li put it, it felt almost like getting a regular injection: incredibly smooth and effortless.
Now, several months later, Ms. Li’s diabetes symptoms have significantly improved. She has now completely stopped taking medication and no longer needs to rely on pills to manage her blood sugar levels. She can enjoy whatever she craves—eating whatever she wants—just like a healthy person, and as a result, her overall quality of life has noticeably improved.
Regenerating pancreatic islet cells—stem cells offer a "root-level" approach to treating diabetes.
You might wonder, why are stem cells effective against diabetes?
This is related to the disease mechanism of diabetes itself, a chronic systemic immune-metabolic disorder primarily caused by insufficient insulin secretion due to impaired function of pancreatic beta cells or insulin resistance.
Stem cells can differentiate into islet cells that have the ability to secrete insulin, offering hope for a functional treatment of diabetes.
Stem cells possess potent differentiation and regenerative capabilities, enabling them to promote the regeneration and repair of damaged pancreatic islet β-cells. By enhancing the function of these β-cells, they help lower blood glucose levels. Additionally, stem cells can improve insulin sensitivity by secreting exosomes that boost cellular glucose uptake, thereby alleviating insulin resistance.
Stem cell therapy can also eliminate potential risks underlying diabetes complications. For instance, vascular damage in diabetic patients is a major contributor to heart and cerebrovascular diseases—common diabetic complications. Stem cells stimulate blood vessel regeneration by promoting differentiation, fusion, and paracrine signaling, helping repair damaged and necrotic heart muscle and blood vessels, thereby preventing the onset of these debilitating complications.
As research into the disease mechanisms of stem cell therapy progresses, stem cells have demonstrated promising therapeutic effects across a wide range of medical conditions. Currently, they are already being used to treat more than 200 challenging and complex diseases, offering newfound hope to patients struggling with rare illnesses. Looking ahead, with the continued advancement of regenerative medicine, the clinical translation and implementation of stem cell therapies for diabetes and its associated complications are expected to become a reality sooner than we might think.
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