Advances in beta-cell replacement therapies for type 1 diabetes mellitus: A narrative review

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a chronic disease characterized by the absence of circulating insulin and c-peptide. Exogenous insulin therapy, which is the mainstay of treatment of T1D cannot prevent the microvascular complications or severe hypoglycemia. Beta-cell replacement therapy in the form...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Azarudeen Jalaludeen, Sanjay Sinha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer –Medknow Publications 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jigims.jigims_61_24
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Summary:Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a chronic disease characterized by the absence of circulating insulin and c-peptide. Exogenous insulin therapy, which is the mainstay of treatment of T1D cannot prevent the microvascular complications or severe hypoglycemia. Beta-cell replacement therapy in the form of whole organ pancreas transplantation or islet cell transplantation helps to maintain endogenous secretion of insulin and other hormones secreted from islet of Langerhans. Over the past 20 years, islet cell transplantation has proven its long-term efficacy in the management of labile diabetes and preventing morbidity. Allogenic islet cell transplantation is a safe therapy for type 1 diabetics with renal failure and nonuremic diabetics with hypoglycemic unawareness. However, access to transplantation is limited by the availability of deceased donor organs and the risks associated with long-term immunosuppression. Cutting edge research in the field of xenotransplantation and stem cells will result in a new source of beta cells in the future. This could potentially eliminate the need for long-term immunosuppression as well. The articles reviewed were identified using PubMed search of relevant key words and Medical Subject Heading terms and after excluding the ones that are beyond the scope of this review.
ISSN:2394-9031
2582-094X