Do stem cells hold hope for diabetics?

It is known that it is not possible to achieve complete recovery or cure from diabetes, and that the treatments used for this disease are aimed at controlling its symptoms and alleviating their severity.

Finally, many studies have emerged that talk about the use of stem cells in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. These cells come from several sources, including: embryos, placenta, umbilical cord, bone marrow, blood cells, or teeth.

Some studies have also reported that the transformation of stem cells into beta cells that secrete insulin may represent a solution to this problem, but this is hindered by the inability to control the amount of insulin that these cells will secrete, and studies include the production of beta cells more in response to glucose levels in the blood, where The researchers implanted the new cells into mice that cannot produce insulin. It was observed that these cells began to secrete the hormone within a few days, and this in itself enabled the animals to control the blood sugar level for several months.

Diabetes is accompanied by a set of signs and symptoms, the most prominent of which can be stated as follows:

High blood sugar levels and loss of glucose in the urine. This is an early symptom of uncontrolled diabetes. This condition may cause frequent urination and may lead to dehydration.

Increased thirst and water consumption.

Weight loss.

Increased appetite.

Tired.

nausea;

vomiting.

Frequent infection, such as an infection of the bladder, skin, or vaginal area.

blurred vision

idleness.

coma.

Diabetes risk factors

Many factors contribute to an increased risk of developing diabetes, and these factors can be stated according to the type as follows:

Type 1 diabetes

The main risk factors for type 1 diabetes can be stated as follows:

Having a family history of the disease, especially if a parent or sibling has type 1 diabetes.

Environmental factors, such as exposure to certain viral infections.

Presence of antibodies to diabetes in the body.

Living in certain geographic areas, such as: Finland and Sweden.

Type 2 diabetes

The most important factors that contribute to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be mentioned as follows:

Obesity.

Advanced age, especially people over the age of forty-five years.

Having a family history of diabetes.

Hypertension.

High levels of triglycerides, or low levels of high-density lipoprotein.

Having a personal history of gestational diabetes.

The birth of a child weighing more than four kilograms.

Not exercising.

Previous heart disease or stroke.

Having certain diseases, such as: depression, polycystic ovary syndrome, or acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition that involves increased pigmentation and thickening of the skin area around the neck or armpits.

Complications of diabetes

The incidence of diabetes increases the risk of developing several complications, and the following is a statement of the most prominent of them:

Cardiovascular diseases: including coronary heart disease and stroke, and it should be noted that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death for patients with diabetes.

Kidney disease: Diabetes may damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, which leads to decreased efficiency or failure of the kidneys.

Diabetic neuropathy: Diabetes, in addition to high blood sugar levels and blood pressure, may lead to nerve damage throughout the body, and this results in the disruption of many body functions, including suffering from digestion problems, or impotence, in addition to The extremities of the body are affected by this.

Diabetic retinopathy: This results in decreased vision or blindness.

Pregnancy complications: including the birth of a baby with a higher weight than the average, or suffering from birth problems, or the baby and the mother being traumatized, in addition to the possibility of a sudden drop in the level of glucose in the baby’s blood after birth.

Other complications: such as gingivitis, bleeding when brushing teeth, or swollen gums.

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