Experts Highlight Fat-Derived Cell Concentrate as Promising Diabetes Treatment

New Delhi: Experts believe that a fat-derived cellular concentrate offers a promising new approach for patients with uncontrolled diabetes who rely heavily on insulin. As diabetes continues to be a major global health issue, approximately 10% of India’s adult population (around 10 crore people) is affected, while another 13.5 crore are in a prediabetic state.

In 2022, a government hospital in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, became the first in India to perform a fat-derived stem cell transplant. The innovative procedure was led by GSVM Medical College, where Prof. (Dr.) B.S. Rajput, a visiting professor, reported positive results. "A cellular concentrate derived from fat tissue is proving effective in managing uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes," Rajput told IANS.

The treatment involves extracting stem cells from abdominal and waist fat, which are then injected into the patient’s muscles and bloodstream. This process stimulates the pancreas’s beta cells to release normal insulin levels. The first patient to undergo this procedure was a 50-year-old man who had been battling Type 2 diabetes for five years. Remarkably, his HbA1c levels—an indicator of glucose control—dropped from 10 to 6.5 within six months without changes to his diet, lifestyle, or medication regimen.

"This breakthrough offers hope to Type 2 diabetes patients who frequently need insulin," Rajput noted. Dr. Manisha Arora, Director of Internal Medicine and Diabetes Specialist at CK Birla Hospital in Delhi, emphasized the potential of fat-derived cellular concentrate. "This technique utilizes stem cells from a patient’s fat tissue to regenerate damaged insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, which can improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation," she explained.

Rajput also highlighted the broader application of this treatment, stating that it may help manage not only uncontrolled diabetes but also its complications, such as nerve damage, kidney damage, and even cardiac issues. The transplant is classified as a “minimal manipulation tissue transplant,” which involves a patented Australian technique for processing stem cells. He described the method as having a high success rate in diabetes management.

However, Rajput cautioned that the production of beta cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) remains prohibitively expensive. Moreover, the body’s autoimmune response may eventually target and destroy these transplanted cells, raising doubts about the treatment’s long-term efficacy. “While this approach is promising, diabetologists are still cautious about its sustained effectiveness,” Rajput added.

Overall, fat-derived cellular concentrate appears to be a promising development for patients with uncontrolled diabetes, potentially reducing insulin dependency and improving overall glucose management. The next step for researchers is to address cost barriers and further evaluate long-term results to ensure sustained benefits for diabetes patients.