A pioneering stem cell therapy has successfully reversed Type 1 diabetes in a 25-year-old woman from China. The patient, who had been reliant on insulin since her early teens, achieved insulin independence just 75 days after receiving the treatment. This breakthrough involved extracting stem cells from the patient’s body and reprogramming them to grow into insulin-producing islet cells. These modified cells were injected into her abdomen, where they restored normal blood sugar control. 

One year after the procedure, the woman remains insulin-free, with no signs of transplant complications. The trial, published in Cell, highlights the potential of stem cell therapy as a future treatment for Type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the immune system attacks the pancreas, destroying its ability to produce insulin. 

While this case marks a major milestone, experts caution that further studies are needed. The patient, who had previously undergone liver and pancreas transplants, remains on immunosuppressant medication, raising concerns about whether her immune system might eventually target the new cells. Nevertheless, the results are encouraging, as they suggest a potential path forward for treating this lifelong condition without daily insulin injections.