Understanding the Potential of Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes Type 2
Stem cell therapy is an emerging treatment for type 2 diabetes. Although it's not yet FDA-approved in the United States, it is a rapidly expanding and promising field of research.
Stem cells are special human cells that can become many different types of cells. Because of this special property, doctors are investigating the potential of stem cell therapy to treat many conditions.
People with type 2 diabetes don't make an adequate amount of insulin to manage their blood sugar. Stem cell therapy may potentially allow people with type 2 diabetes to start producing more insulin again and reduce the need for medications.
The effectiveness and safety of stem cell therapy for treating diabetes are still under investigation, but some early studies have found promising results.
What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cell therapy involves taking stem cells from your body or another human's to help regenerate damaged tissues.
Stem cells can be collected from fetal and adult tissues, such as:
fat tissue
umbilical cord
bone marrow
placenta
How is stem cell therapy being used to treat type 2 diabetes?
The diabetes epidemic remains one of the biggest health crises in the United States. Roughly 1 in 10 people in the United States has diabetes, with the majority having type 2.
Researchers continue looking for new treatment options, and stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising option. Its use in humans is still being investigated, and more research is needed to assess its long-term effectiveness and safety accurately.
According to the authors of a 2025 letter to the editor, their team identified 143 diabetes stem cell therapy clinical trials worldwide from 2000 to 2024. Of these, 19 trials were ongoing.
Research on type 2 diabetes
Most research to date has examined stem cell therapy as a treatment for type 1 diabetes.
In 2008, a team of researchers recruited a small group of 25 people with type 2 diabetes for a phase 1 clinical trial examining the effectiveness of stem cell therapy combined with hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The researchers found that all measured markers, such as fasting glucose levels and insulin requirement, improved at a one-year follow-up.
Since then, more studies have continued to find evidence that stem cell therapy may potentially improve blood sugar management and reduce the need for diabetes medications.
Further ongoing trials have also shown that stem cell therapy may help improve diabetic complications such as:
diabetic foot ulcers
erectile dysfunction
diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Modern research
In 2024, researchers reported a groundbreaking case of a 25-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes who started producing insulin within three months of receiving a stem cell transplant, effectively reversing her diabetes.
The results of current trials for type 2 diabetes look promising. Future research will focus on analyzing long-term results and safety in larger groups.
Many clinical trials are currently underway. For instance, one clinical trial that's currently recruiting is examining the effectiveness of stem cell therapy for treating type 2 diabetes that hasn't responded to other treatments.
A phase II clinical trial that isn't yet in the recruiting phase is examining the effectiveness and safety of a type of stem cell therapy that involves taking cells from your own body.
How does stem cell therapy compare to traditional treatments for type 2 diabetes?
Treatment for type 2 diabetes typically consists of making lifestyle changes and sometimes taking medications. Commonly prescribed medications include:
metformin
sulfonylureas
glinides
GLP-1 receptor agonists
DPP-4 inhibitors
Thiazolidnediones
These medications help improve your blood sugar management, but they need to be taken continuously to be effective. Stem cell therapy is an attractive alternative since it can potentially be curative after one treatment.
Who is a good candidate for stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes?
Stem cell therapy is still an experimental treatment. Researchers are continuing to see who might make a good candidate. For now, researchers may offer it as an experimental treatment for people who haven't responded to other treatments.
What are the risks of having stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes?
Researchers are continuing to examine the safety of stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes. Some concern is that it could encourage tumor formation.
Side effects reported in clinical trials included:
fever
bruising
nausea
vomiting
headache
hypoglycemia
What is the success rate for stem cell therapy as a treatment for type 2 diabetes?
Improvements in blood sugar management have been reported in as little as weeks. For example, in a 2024 case study, researchers observed improvements in a 59-year-old man with severe diabetes complications within 2 weeks.
Studies consistently show improvements in blood sugar management, but larger studies are needed to understand the actual success rate.
Where can you have stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes?
Stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes is still under investigation. In the United States, thousands of clinics have appeared offering unlicensed and unproven stem cell therapies.
The FDA hasn't yet approved stem cell therapies for diabetes.
What does cell therapy for type 2 diabetes cost?
Stem cell therapy isn't yet available for treating type II diabetes in the United States. Because it's not approved for use, it's also not covered by insurance.
To get a rough idea of the cost, in one study, researchers estimated that the average price of stem cell therapy for diabetes might range from $5,000 to $50,000.
What's the outlook for people who have stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes?
Little research examines the long-term effectiveness of stem cell therapy for diabetes. Most current studies have had follow-ups shorter than 1–2 years. Although it shows a lot of promise, more research is needed to judge long-term results accurately.
Can you still have traditional treatment during or after stem cell therapy?
Some people seem to reduce their need for medications or can stop taking medications altogether after stem cell therapy.
Takeaway
Stem cell therapy is being investigated as a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes. In theory, it may allow the body to produce more insulin to better regulate blood sugar levels.
Stem cell therapy isn't yet FDA-approved in the United States for treating diabetes, but researchers continue examining its safety and effectiveness. The field of stem cell therapy is expanding rapidly, so it's likely that many more studies will be completed in the next few years.
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