stem cell research for diabetes

Type one diabetes is a disease that is affecting millions of people worldwide. Studies have shown by the year 2010 the number of people suffering from diabetes exceed 350 million (Bethesda, 2013). This places a huge deficit in America’s health and is a burden to society. It is crucial to find a cure before millions more people become diagnosed with diabetes.

A therapeutic method has been tested to treat type one diabetes through stem cell therapy. Research has shown promise, but also risks along the way. May this be a medical break through or a risky trade for the cure? Studies have shown progress through experiments in mice, concluding that embryonic stem cells can be cultured into a cell that makes and secretes insulin (Serup, 2001). In many cases over the counter drugs do not provide enough stability or control of the glucose in the blood (Serup, 2001). Through the manipulation of cells such as stem cell embryotic, germinal, and adult stem cells have shown evidence for a possible cure.

Embryotic secretion takes place in the embryotic cells that have been cultured and donated. Stem cell therapy is used for the regeneration and reproduction of new cells in the pancreases. Ideally, stem cells should be able to multiply and reproduce themselves. There are other options regarding stem cell therapy, such as cloning cells, which may be beneficial as well. The reason why is because it minimizes the percentage of rejection, but its also risky on the count of a surgical transfusion that may have complications and can be very expensive (Park EL AL. 2008).

The use for stem cells in type one diabetes involves the insertions of the beta cell. The beta cells are located in the pancreas, which secretes insulin. Insulin is a protein that ge...

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Serup, P. S. (2001) Islet and stem cell transplantation for treating diabetes. Development of biology, 322(6). 29-32

Han, J. H., and Sidhu, K. S. (2011). Embryonic stem cell extracts: use in differentiation and reprogramming. Regenerative Medicine. 6(2), 215.

Rother, K. R, and Harlan, D. H. (2004) Challenges facing islet transplantation for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Journal of Clinical Investigation 114(7), 877-883.

Bonner‐Weir, S. B-W., and Sharma, A. S. (2002) Pancreatic stem cells. The Journal of Pathology 197(4), 519-526.

Bethesda, B. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, [Online]. Available: http://www.nih.gov [02/22/14]