A Revolutionary Shift in Diabetes Care

A New Era in Diabetes Treatment? Islet Cell Transplantation Instead of Daily Insulin Injections

Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide, especially type 1 diabetics, who rely on daily insulin injections to sustain their lives. However, a revolutionary yet simple procedure is gaining attention in UAE healthcare institutions: islet cell transplantation. This procedure allows many patients to completely abandon insulin or significantly reduce its dosage.

What is Islet Cell Transplantation?

During the procedure, pancreatic cells capable of producing insulin are transplanted. These cells are obtained from donors and, after thorough laboratory examination, are introduced into the patient's body via a catheter procedure—specifically into the liver. This target provides an ideal environment for the cells to settle and begin regulating blood sugar levels.

Who is it Available for?

It is important to highlight that the treatment is exclusively applicable to type 1 diabetics. In this type, the body's immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells, so the transplanted islet cells can replace this function. Type 2 diabetes, where the body generally produces insulin but the cells are resistant to it, is unsuitable for this therapy.

What Results Have Been Achieved So Far?

According to case studies conducted in the UAE, 50% of patients undergoing islet cell transplantation could completely stop insulin, while others manage their condition with less frequent and smaller doses. In one study, 85% of the 25 patients achieved positive results with half becoming totally medication-free.

A Safe Alternative to Pancreatic Transplant

Islet cell transplantation is a safer alternative to full organ transplantation as it does not involve significant surgical intervention and eliminates risks of organ rejection or severe bleeding. The procedure takes only 30 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia, making it suitable even for high-risk patients.

Current Challenges

Although the treatment is effective and simple, there are several obstacles to its wider application:

Donor cell shortage: There are not enough suitable donors, limiting the procedure's frequency.

Lifetime immune suppression: Patients need to continually take immunosuppressive medications to retain the implanted cells.

Cost and availability: It hasn't yet become widely available, but research, especially in stem cell-based islet cell developments, is promising.

The Role of EHS and Future Prospects

Emirates Health Services, in collaboration with the University of Chicago, is already working to make the treatment accessible within the UAE, not just through foreign interventions. Islet cell transplantation has been approved by the U.S. FDA for type 1 diabetic adults experiencing severe hypoglycemic episodes or who have difficulty maintaining blood glucose levels even with intensive insulin treatment.

Final Thoughts

While islet cell transplantation is not yet a universally available treatment, it offers significant potential for type 1 diabetics who have been struggling for years with the burden of insulin therapy. With emerging technologies and research, this method may soon revolutionize diabetes treatment—and open the door to a future where daily injections are a thing of the past.

(The article is based on a release from Emirates Health Services (EHS).)