Researchers in Sweden have found a better way to turn human stem cells into cells that make insulin. These new cells work well in the lab and can even fix diabetes in mice.
Why Type 1 Diabetes Happens
In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks the pancreas and destroys the cells that release insulin. Without insulin, sugar stays in the blood and can become dangerous.
Better Insulin‑Making Cells
The new technique makes insulin‑producing cells that are more mature and active than older methods. In tests, the cells released insulin when sugar levels rose.
When the scientists placed the cells into the eyes of diabetic mice, the mice slowly learned to control their blood sugar again. The eye spot let the team watch the cells grow and work over time.
"We could see the cells maturing inside the eye and keeping blood sugar steady for months," said researcher Per‑Olof Berggren.
Fixing Old Problems
Previous stem‑cell therapies often created a mix of useful and unwanted cell types, which can be risky. Also, many lab‑grown insulin cells were not ready enough to react to sugar.
To solve this, the team changed the growing process and let the cells form natural three‑dimensional clusters. This reduced the unwanted cells and made the insulin cells respond better to sugar.
What Comes Next
The work was done by scientists from Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. It brings hope that future treatments could replace lost insulin cells and help people with type 1 diabetes live healthier lives.