What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition in which the body does not respond properly to insulin (insulin resistance) and the pancreas gradually cannot make enough insulin to keep blood sugar in a healthy range. Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves, raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, eye disease and foot problems. The NHS type 2 diabetes guide explains the condition in detail.
Symptoms
Many people have no symptoms for years. When present, they include:
- Feeling very thirsty and passing urine often
- Tiredness
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing cuts and frequent infections
- Unintended weight loss
- Numbness or tingling in the feet (an early sign of diabetic neuropathy)
Causes and risk factors
- Excess body weight, especially around the waist
- Physical inactivity
- Family history
- Age (risk rises after 40, or earlier in South Asian, East Asian, African and Caribbean populations)
- Previous gestational diabetes
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Certain medicines, such as long-term steroids
Diagnosis and monitoring
| Test | Diabetes range (typical) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HbA1c | 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) or above | Reflects average blood sugar over 2–3 months |
| Fasting plasma glucose | 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) or above | Needs an overnight fast |
| Oral glucose tolerance test | 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or above at 2 hours | Used in some settings |
| C-peptide | No diagnostic cut-off | Shows how much insulin the pancreas still makes |
| Kidney tests (eGFR, urine albumin) | — | Screen for kidney damage |
| Eye and foot checks | — | Screen for complications |
These results are essential before any additional therapy is considered. You can send your reports for a doctor review and get an honest opinion.
Standard treatment first
Standard type 2 diabetes treatment is highly effective and must never be replaced by an experimental therapy.
- Lifestyle change. Healthy eating, physical activity and weight loss improve blood sugar and heart health.
- Remission programmes. The DiRECT trial (Lean et al., Lancet, 2018) showed that structured weight loss can put type 2 diabetes into remission for many people, particularly within a few years of diagnosis.
- Metformin, usually first-line.
- SGLT2 inhibitors (such as empagliflozin, dapagliflozin), which also protect the heart and kidneys.
- GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as semaglutide) and the GIP/GLP-1 agonist tirzepatide, which lower blood sugar and support weight loss.
- Other tablets: DPP-4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, pioglitazone.
- Insulin, when other treatments are not enough.
- Metabolic (bariatric) surgery for some people with obesity.
- Blood pressure and cholesterol control to protect the heart.
Stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes: the evidence
Mesenchymal stem cells
Stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes typically uses mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from umbilical cord, bone marrow or fat tissue, given intravenously. The theory is that MSCs may reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity, and possibly support remaining insulin-producing cells.
- Studies are mostly small, early-phase trials, many from China and India.
- Some report lower HbA1c or reduced insulin doses for several months; others show little change.
- Few studies are randomised and placebo-controlled, and long-term data are sparse.
- Systematic reviews describe the evidence as low quality and call for larger trials.
Type 1 diabetes research is different
Headlines about “stem cells curing diabetes” usually concern type 1 diabetes, where insulin-producing cells are destroyed by the immune system. Approaches include donor islet transplants (FDA-approved Lantidra in 2023) and lab-grown islet cells from stem cells, which have shown striking results in early trials but require lifelong immunosuppression or encapsulation. These are not the same as MSC infusions and are not used for type 2 diabetes.
Regulatory status
No stem cell therapy is approved for type 2 diabetes by the US FDA, Australia’s TGA or the UK MHRA. The FDA warns about unapproved stem cell therapies. Patients from Australia, the UK and the US cannot access these treatments outside trials at home.
Who may be a candidate, and who should not
May be considered for review:
- Type 2 diabetes under the care of a doctor, on optimised standard treatment
- Reasonably stable blood sugar
- Some remaining insulin production (measurable C-peptide)
- Motivation to continue lifestyle change
- Understanding that results are uncertain and may be temporary
Should not:
- Very high or unstable blood sugar, or recent diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar state
- Recent heart attack, stroke or unstable angina
- Active foot ulcers, gangrene or infection
- Advanced kidney disease without specialist input
- Proliferative retinopathy that is untreated
- Active cancer or pregnancy
- Anyone intending to stop insulin or diabetes medicines
Risks
- Infusion reactions: fever, headache
- Infection (higher risk with diabetes)
- Rare blood clots
- Blood sugar swings during travel, time-zone changes and new foods
- Unknown long-term effects
Cells are prepared in ISO 9001:2015-certified partner laboratories.
What a Bangkok program looks like
- Send your records. HbA1c, glucose readings, C-peptide if available, kidney and liver tests, cholesterol and medication list.
- Doctor review. An honest opinion, including if lifestyle and medicine optimisation would help more.
- Assessment in Bangkok. Examination, foot and heart checks, blood tests.
- Program, which may combine cell therapy with metabolic health support from our longevity program. Supportive drips such as NAD+ IV therapy are wellness treatments, not diabetes treatment.
- Report for your diabetes team.
See how it works. Related: diabetic neuropathy and heart failure.
Aftercare
- Continue all diabetes medicines and insulin as prescribed
- Check blood sugar more often while travelling
- Carry hypoglycaemia treatment at all times
- Protect your feet: comfortable shoes, check daily for blisters
- Share all results with your diabetes doctor and repeat HbA1c after 3 months
Sources
- NHS: Type 2 diabetes
- Lean MEJ, et al. Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT). Lancet, 2018.
- U.S. FDA: approval of Lantidra (donislecel) for type 1 diabetes, June 2023.
- U.S. FDA: Consumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells and Exosomes
- Systematic reviews of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in type 2 diabetes, indexed on PubMed
Frequently asked questions
Can stem cells cure type 2 diabetes?
No. There is no stem cell cure for type 2 diabetes. Some small studies report short-term improvements, but results are inconsistent and long-term benefit has not been shown in large controlled trials.
Can type 2 diabetes go into remission?
Yes, for some people. The DiRECT trial (Lancet, 2018) showed that substantial weight loss through a structured diet programme led to remission in many participants. Remission is most likely early after diagnosis.
Should I stop insulin or diabetes tablets for stem cell therapy?
No. Never stop insulin or diabetes medicines on your own. Doing so can cause dangerously high blood sugar. Any change must be made with your diabetes doctor based on blood sugar monitoring.
Is the stem cell treatment for type 1 diabetes the same?
No. Type 1 diabetes research uses donor or lab-grown insulin-producing islet cells, with immunosuppression. In 2023 the FDA approved donor islet cells (Lantidra) for selected adults with type 1 diabetes. These are different from mesenchymal stem cell infusions offered for type 2 diabetes.
Who should not consider stem cell therapy for diabetes?
People with very high or unstable blood sugar, recent heart attack or stroke, active foot ulcers or infections, advanced kidney disease without specialist input, active cancer or pregnancy should not. Send your reports for an honest doctor review.
What reports should I send?
Recent HbA1c, fasting glucose, kidney and liver tests, cholesterol, your medication list and any specialist letters. Send them on WhatsApp for a free doctor review.
This page is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor. Results vary and no treatment outcome can be guaranteed. We are a patient coordination service and may receive a referral fee from partner medical providers. See our medical disclaimer and referral disclosure.