Can China Cure Diabetes? The Latest Breakthroughs in Treatment

In a groundbreaking medical milestone, Chinese scientists have developed a cell therapy that, as announced in May 2024, has successfully cured a patient with diabetes. This innovative treatment is a major advancement in the field of regenerative medicine and could revolutionize how diabetes is treated globally, especially in countries like China, where diabetes poses a significant healthcare burden.

The treatment was developed by a collaboration of leading institutions, including Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, the Centre for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, and Renji Hospital, and was published in the prestigious journal Cell Discovery. The success of this therapy marks a major shift in diabetes management, moving beyond the traditional reliance on insulin injections and medications. 

The new therapy works by leveraging the body’s regenerative capabilities. A leading researcher on the team and director of the hospital's Organ Transplant Center, Yin Hao, said they used peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient and transformed them into “seed cells” capable of regenerating pancreatic islet tissue in an artificial environment. This regeneration of islet cells, which are responsible for producing insulin and maintaining balance in sugar levels, restores the body's ability to regulate blood sugar naturally, eliminating the need for external insulin.

This approach represents an exciting advancement in regenerative medicine, a field that focuses on using the body’s own cells to repair and regenerate damaged tissues or organs. By restoring the function of pancreatic islets, this treatment addresses the root cause of diabetes, offering long-term relief rather than temporary management. 

The first patient to receive this cell therapy underwent the procedure in July 2021. He was a  59-year-old-man, who had Type 2 diabetes for 25 years and a kidney transplant in June 2017, as he was at serious risk of diabetes complications. He had lost most pancreatic islet function and relied on multiple insulin injections every day. Within just 11 weeks after the cell therapy surgery, he no longer required insulin injections. Over the following months, the patient was able to reduce and eventually stop taking oral medications for blood sugar control. As of now, this individual has been completely insulin-free for more than 36 months.

According to the researchers, follow-up examinations confirmed that the patient’s pancreatic islet function was effectively restored. The patient’s success story showcases the life-changing potential of this therapy, which could significantly reduce the daily burden of diabetes management.

Experts in the field, such as Timothy Kieffer from the University of British Columbia, have praised the treatment as a major leap forward in diabetes cell therapy. If further studies confirm these results, it could mark the beginning of a new era in diabetes care. 

Weight management programs are increasingly recognized as a key approach to treating type 2 diabetes. These programs focus on diet and lifestyle changes to help people lose weight, which can have a profound impact on blood sugar levels. In some cases, significant weight loss can even lead to diabetes remission, where blood sugar levels return to a normal range without the need for medication.

One of the most promising studies in this area is the DiRECT (Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial). This groundbreaking study focuses on a low-calorie diet, where patients consume around 800 calories a day for several months under medical supervision. The goal is to reduce the fat around the pancreas and liver, which helps restore the body’s ability to produce and use insulin effectively. The results of the DiRECT study have been impressive, with many participants experiencing remission from their diabetes after significant weight loss.

These programs often involve:

1. Calorie-restricted diets: Focused on reducing daily calorie intake to promote fat loss, especially around the pancreas, which can improve insulin sensitivity.

2. Regular physical activity: Exercise helps lower blood sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity, making it easier to control diabetes.

3. Behavioral support: Counseling and support groups to help individuals maintain long-term lifestyle changes.

While weight management programs can be highly effective, they require a strong commitment to lifestyle changes and ongoing support. Unlike medication or insulin therapy, these programs target the root cause of type 2 diabetes — excess body fat — making them a more natural and sustainable approach to managing the disease.

For some individuals, especially those with severe obesity, weight loss surgery (such as bariatric surgery) may be considered as part of a weight management plan. These surgeries can result in significant weight loss and, in many cases, lead to long-term diabetes remission.

Although not a cure, these programs can provide a path to significantly better health, reducing or even eliminating the need for medications. As research continues, weight management programs are proving to be a valuable tool in managing type 2 diabetes, alongside new potential therapies like cell therapy.

The Chinese cell therapy opens the door to a more natural approach to curing diabetes. Unlike current treatments that manage symptoms, this therapy aims to restore the body’s natural insulin production by regenerating the damaged cells that cause the disease.

In contrast to the daily burden of insulin injections and medication, this treatment could free millions from the need for chronic medications, significantly improving their quality of life. With over 141 million people living with diabetes in China alone, and 40 million relying on insulin, this innovative approach could dramatically reduce healthcare costs and transform the lives of millions.

While the treatment is still in its early stages and requires further studies to validate its efficacy in larger populations, the initial success is a promising step toward a future where diabetes can be cured, not just managed.