Placenta Stem Cells Could Prevent Diabetes Complications
Critical limb ischemia (CLI), otherwise known as “diabetic foot,” is a condition that results from poor blood flow in people with diabetes. Often times, this condition ultimately leads to amputation of the limb.
But the discovery of a Chinese research team could lead to prevention of diabetic foot problems, and could even improve diabetic foot syndrome in those who already have it.
The Study
This study and it's results will be published in full in an upcoming issue of Cell Transplantation, but an early report is currently available online. According to this report, researchers collected placentas from women who had undergone full-term cesarean sections (the women, it is important to add, gave written permission for their placentas to bu used in the study).
Then, the team extracted mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, from the placenta. They injected the MSCs into rats, monitoring their health compared to rats without the injection. Remarkably, the rats who had been injected showed improved blood flow and enhanced blood vessel growth, which researchers believe could prevent the onset of CLI.
"We believe that cytokines secreted by MSCs attract endothelial cells, a type of cells that make up the tissues lining the interior surface of blood vessels," said the researchers. "These cells participate in building new vascular tissues and also inhibit inflammation."
How Can This Help Me?
In their report, these researchers make it clear that they hope to introduce MSC treatment to the diabetes community. "So far, MSC therapy represents a simple, safe and effective therapeutic approach for diabetes and its complications," they said. "Our studies lay the groundwork for the transition from the experimental bench to the clinical bedside."
And as diabetes diagnoses continues to grow across the globe, a safe and effective treatment might become more and more necessary. As Dr. Maria Carolina Oliveira Rodrigues, section editor of Cell Transplantation, reminds us, "Diabetes is becoming more prevalent across the globe and stem cell therapy may be a vital approach to serious vascular complications."
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...