Almost 3.7 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes in the UK
12.3 million people are at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in the UK
4.6 million people are living with diabetes in the UK
1 in 4 people with diabetes in the UK are unaware of their condition
Treating Diabetes and its complications currently costs the NHS almost £10 billion each year
Source: Diabetes UK & Public Health England
4.6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes, a figure that has doubled in the last 20 years alone, according to Diabetes UK* and which is forecast to increase further over the coming years.
Stem cell therapy has been described as the next frontier for diabetes treatment for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is the long-life health condition that occurs when the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in the amount of glucose (sugar) in the body being too high, because the body can’t use it properly.
In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells (b-cells) of the pancreas. In Type 2 diabetes, the more common form, this is characterised by insulin resistance, and by subsequent progressive decline in b-cell function to the point that the cells can no longer produce enough additional insulin to overcome the insulin resistance.
Research into Stem Cell Treatment for Diabetes
The good news is that researchers are actively exploring cell replacement therapy as a potential strategy to treat Type 1 diabetes, and research has already demonstrated that Mesenchymal Stem Cells (cells from teeth) can differentiate into insulin secreting cells. In fact, dental pulp stem cells are considered to be the most optimal source for MSC’s. They are noncontroversial, easily accessible, and collection presents no discomfort to the donor.
Furthermore, if a safe and cost-effective means for replenishing b-cells were developed, this treatment strategy could be useful for the larger population with Type 2 diabetes.
BioEden Customers Using their Stem Cells to Treat Diabetes
At BioEden we have already witnessed the remarkable evidence of these ongoing developments with BioEden members with diabetes reporting some of the most significant results we have seen.
In one remarkable case a 28-year-old who received a full course of dental cell treatment, reported decreased swelling, an improvement in energy levels, and a reduction in their insulin application.
Another member, who’s halfway through their treatment, has had similar results along with improvements in their liver function and is due to begin their second course later this year.
Protecting Against Potential Future Diabetes
The best stem cells are young stem cells, before they can deteriorate through age of pollution. That’s why it’s advisable to bank stem cells whilst they are in their prime, at the best they will ever be – at the youngest age possible.
As children naturally lose around 12 teeth over a five-year period, the process of obtaining viable stem cells for future treatment for conditions, such as diabetes, is non-invasive. It’s also the most cost effective way to ensure cells are banked and ready for when they may need to be used in the future.
If you want more information on how you could bank your children’s baby teeth for potential future therapeutic use, have a chat to one of our team or download our guide to stem cell banking.
To keep up to date with the latest developments in stem cell therapy and the treatment of diabetes, make sure to check back regularly to our blog.
