Stem Cells in Type 2 Diabetes Treatment | IJB 2026

Mirza Masroor Ali Beg,  Nilam Bhasker,  Tridiv Katiyar, and Amar Chandra Sharma, from the department of India. Wrote a review article about, Stem Cells in Type 2 Diabetes Treatment. Entitled, Clinical importance of stem cells in T2D treatment: A systematic review.This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Advanced pharmacological treatments have not been able to effectively manage the course of type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] as a result of these challenges to investigate the possible intervention of regenerative medicine such as stem-cell therapies to restore metabolic functions and improve complications of diabetes. The systematic review was done in accordance with PRISMA 2020, PubMed/MEDLINE [2016-2026] were searched on the topic of stem cell therapies in T2DM. Eight studies [RCTs, Phase I-IV trials, observational and case studies] were counted, and they were based on bone marrow-derived MSCs, adipose-derived stromal cells, and umbilical cord-derived MSCs. MSC based therapy has shown high therapeutic promise in T2DM with a consistent improvement in the HbA1C, glycemic control and 8-cell performance, especially using umbilical cord MSCs and bone marrow MSCs. Metabolic results are further improved as a consequence of combination [e.g., in hyperbaric oxygen]. The long-term outcomes such as long-term glycemic control and 8 years of 15 8cell functioning have been reported. The complications that have been reported to have improved notably include wound healing, limb perfusion, and slowed down kidney disease progression. These processes are mediated by β-cell regeneration in patients with long-term diabetes, which demonstrates the benefit of early intervention. Regenerative therapies through stem cells offer an option to treat T2DM. The approaches have the potential to improve glycemic control and result in improvements in complications associated with diabetes.  

Introduction

T2DM is a complicated metabolic condition with a combination of insulin resistance, progressive pancreatic 2-cell dysfunction, and chronic hyperglycemia resulting in the severe complications related to diabetes such as foot ulcers, kidney disease, and critical limb ischemia (Zhao et al., 2017). Despite development and advances in pharmacological care, the number of patients with progressive disease and complications remains high, over the last few years, regenerative medicine, such as stem cell-based therapy, has been growing fast and is being as a clinical option for the diabetic treatment (Zhao et al., 2017). There is developing evidence that cell-based regenerative therapies can have a beneficial effect on pancreatic activity and metabolic control. Indicatively, platelet-derived mitochondria have been reported to express embryonic stem cell markers and improve pancreatic islet cell function in humans which suggests a new way of metabolic recovery in diabetes (Zhao et al., 2017). Bone marrow-derived cell therapies have been shown to have a potential beneficial effect in diabetes management, such as tissue regeneration and muscle control. It has been clinically demonstrated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation has proven to be effective in the treatment of diabetic complications, including long-term treatment of severe diabetics such as recurrent cases of lower limb bullosis diabeticorum (Chen et al., 2018). Moreover, there are randomized controlled trials conducted on combination therapies, including autologous bone marrow stem cell transplantation combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which depict therapeutic effectiveness in persons with T2DM (Estrada et al., 2019). Vascular complications in diabetes have also been proven to be treated with the help of stem cell therapies. Long-term outcomes of extracting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell [BMMSCs] or bone marrow mononuclear cells [BMMNCs] have been shown to have positive results in diabetic critical limb ischemia patients and foot ulcer patients (Lu et al., 2019).

Moreover, adipose-derived stromal cells and stromal vascular fraction cells showed their regenerative potential in reversing chronic diabetic foot ulcers, by enhancing wound-healing process (Carstens et al., 2021; Soria-Juan et al., 2021). An additional mesenchymal stem cell source of the umbilical cord has also undergone clinical trials and reported safety and the possibility of an effective outcome in adults with type 2 diabetes to enhance metabolic parameters (Zang et al., 2022; Zang et al., 2023). These regenerative treatments have facilitated tissue repair through mechanisms such as angiogenesis, immunomodulation, and enhanced microvascular circulation.

Also, recent studies have been investigating the mesenchymal stromal cell therapy with regards to diabetic kidney disease, noting its safety and initial effectiveness in the enhancement of renal outcomes (Habiba et al., 2024). The clinical outcomes of stem cell therapies can differ depending on the disease duration and disease, which was proved to affect the efficacy of the autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (Velikova et al., 2024). Experimental and clinical research has been building evidence that stem cell-based therapies and regenerative medicine technologies can provide a prospective tool in enhancing metabolic regulation and intervention of the complications that can be linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, there is need to carry out additional research and properly designed clinical trials to determine the safety, longterm efficacy, and clinical applicability of these emerging therapeutic interventions. Thus, the current review aimed to summarize the stem cell-based therapies of type 2 diabetes, and especially highlight recent clinical developments, the current challenges in the field, and the future outlook of regenerative diabetes care.

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Article source : Clinical importance of stem cells in T2D treatment: A systematic review