PGIMER claims breakthrough in diabetes research

CHANDIGARH - Doctors at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here Saturday claimed a breakthrough in research for treating Type-2 diabetes.

Endocrinology department head Anil Bhansali said that experiments with implanting stem cells from Type-2 diabetic patients in their affected pancreas had shown good results.

“In this procedure, we took stem cells from the bone marrow of patients suffering from diabetes who were insulin-dependent. The results in case of seven out of 10 patients have shown good results,” Bhansali said.

The experiments were conducted over the last three years.

Bhansali said that the research had shown that patients, whose stem cells were implanted in the pancreas, had become less dependent on insulin and were able to lead a better and healthier lifestyle.

Millions of Indians are affected by diabetes, especially the lifestyle-related Type-2 diabetes, and the country is expected to become the diabetes capital of the world in the next few years.

The pancreas of diabetes-affected patients are not able to produce enough insulin required for various body functions. This can affect other organs in the long run. The severe cases become insulin-dependent and have to take insulin shots everyday through injections.

Nov 14 is observed as Diabetes Day internationally.