A pilot study researching the effect of stem cells from umbilical cord blood on children with type 1 diabetes was presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 67th Annual Scientific Sessions in June 2007. The study compared two groups of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The first group received transfusions of their own umbilical cord blood that had been banked when they were born. The second group was the control group. These were kids who were selected to match the first group as closely as possible in age and duration of their diabetes.
After a six month period, the kids who received the cord blood had lower average A1C levels and needed less insulin than the control group. Michael J. Haller, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Florida College of Medicine, stated in the press release,
“After only six months, it is too early to tell how long the children will benefit from this therapy, but early signs indicate that it may have helped enhance blood glucose control and management.”
Although the transfusions of cord blood didn’t make the diabetes go away, but it did seem to preserve the children’s own insulin production longer than expected. Dr Haller further explained,
“Our preliminary data showing lower A1Cs, lower average insulin requirements, and possible preservation of Cpeptide suggest a beneficial effect of autologous umbilical cord transfusion in youngsters with recent onset type 1 diabetes. Considerable research today is seeking to delay complete beta cell loss, and this may be one effective approach for children who have their own cord blood, who are newly diagnosed with type 1, and who enter clinical trials.”
The underlying objective of the study is to isolate the component in the cord blood that was effective in lowering A1C and slowing progression of the disease. The scientists hope that finding the cell type and recreating it will make the benefits available to more people.