Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Produces Insulin for Diabetics

Good news for millions of diabetics, as the Times newspaper and numerous websites are reporting on the breakthrough made by researchers in producing insulin-secreting cells from cord blood.

The team in Ireland has made a major breakthrough in the field of adult stem cell research by producing insulin needed by diabetic patients from the stem cells from the umbilical cords of living babies. The result provides real hope for diabetics because the insulin from embryonic stem cells doesn't work as effectively and involves the destruction of human life.

Colin McGuckin, professor of regenerative medicine at the University of Newcastle, will soon present the findings, showing the production of insulin-secreting cells from cord blood at a presentation at the Augustinian Institute in Rome.

McGuckin said that insulin produced from adult stem cells will be more effective for those with diabetes. Although people have been able to do it from embryonic stem cells, they are not transplantable because they don't have a tissue match for the patient. Plus, embryonic stem cell transplants also have problems with cancers and tumors afterwards, which isn't the case with adult stem cells from the umbilical cord.

Read the full article here.