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Can You Get Rid Of Diabetes

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There is currently no permanent cure for any type of diabetes, but recent medical advances have achieved remission or reversal of the disease in certain cases using stem cell therapy, organ transplantation, bariatric surgery, or advanced medications[4][5]. However, these approaches often have significant limitations and are not yet scalable or universally accessible.

For type 1 diabetes, some patients have experienced insulin independence through stem cell–based therapies and islet cell transplantation. In 2024, a 25-year-old woman in China became insulin-free for over a year after receiving a transplant of insulin-producing cells derived from her own stem cells. This pioneering result demonstrates that a reversal is possible, but procedures using a patient’s own cells are difficult to standardize or expand for widespread use[1][4]. Similar results have been achieved with donor-derived stem cells and islet cell transplants, but these often require continuous immunosuppressive therapy, which carries additional health risks and is not suitable for everyone[4][7]. More than half of islet cell transplant recipients return to insulin therapy within a year[5].

For type 2 diabetes, significant or even complete remission has been documented after bariatric (weight-loss) surgery, particularly when accompanied by maintained weight loss and lifestyle changes. However, this remission can be temporary, and diabetes often recurs with weight regain[5][6]. Most cases of type 2 diabetes are managed through lifestyle interventions, oral medications, or insulin therapy to control blood glucose rather than to eliminate the disease.

Beta cell replacement and protection are critical areas of research. Experimental therapies aim to regenerate or protect insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, potentially restoring natural insulin production. Approaches include:

  • Transplanting lab-grown islet or beta cells, often requiring immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection[2][4][7].
  • Developing encapsulation devices to protect transplanted cells from immune attack without systemic immunosuppression[2][4].
  • Investigating drugs that stimulate the regeneration of a patient’s own beta cells[3].

Despite promising breakthroughs and FDA approvals for novel cell therapies, these methods currently benefit only a small group of patients, and none are considered a definitive, permanent cure for the majority of people with diabetes[2][4][5]. Research is accelerating, but at present, most people manage diabetes as a lifelong condition with ongoing treatment to prevent complications.

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