Diabetes is one of the worst disease in today world, its slowly damage all the organs, heart, kidney and blood vessels. Diabetes increases the amounts of sugar levels or glucose in your blood. But today, there are huge treatment that help to recover from diabetes, one of them is Stem cell treatment. In this article, we understand about stem cell treatment and how its effected in diabetes and also go through the cost and do a comparison of stem cell treatment in India or other countries. Read this article for better understanding and resolve your queries related to cost of stem cell treatment.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes refers to a long term health problem characterized by excessive amounts of sugar or glucose in your blood. Diabetes occur in the human body when the pancreas allow no insulin in the case body, which cannot properly use insulin and human body affected by diabetes. If talking about the result, sugar make a place in the body bloodstream, and human body lead with health problems over time. After this there are so many common effect increased in the body such as thirst, frequent urine, fatigue, and its also slowing affecting the heart, kidneys, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels. To remove this disease in your body, you should follow a proper management that includes healthy eating, exercise, monitoring glucose, and medical treatment.
Understanding Stem Cell Treatment Works for Diabetes
Stem cell treatment is one of the best treatments for diabetes patients. Also, all the doctors recommended this treatment for recover the diabetes from the patient body. This treatment help a replacing damaged cells in the body. In diabetes, the case of type 1 Diabetes, that insulin produce beta cells in the pancreas are damaged or destroy. In this situation, stem cell treatment help patient body to develop many differenet cell types including beta cells. And continuing uses of this treatment its help to regenerate the pancreaic cells or help in improving the insulin production or support better blood sugar regulation.
If we are talking about type 2 diabetes in this situation, stem cells help in improving the insulin sensitivity and reduce the inflammation. The use of stem cells for diabetes is still primarily experimental, even with positive research findings. More clinical research will be require to verify its effectiveness, safety and long term benefits before everyone easily made accessible.
Types of Diabetes Treated with Stem Cell Therapy
Using Stem cell therapy for the treatment of Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 has opened up revolutionary pathways to the management of this chronic disease. It helps create new insulin-producing beta cells or modulate the immune system. To be more precise, in a recent trial for T1D, some of the patients became insulin independent, while in the trial for T2D, their glucose control improved. Though the technology is still under development and the main objective is to help patients produce insulin naturally and need less external insulin, the results are very promising.
For Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
- Goal: The goal of type 1 diabetes replace a destroyed beta cells in the pancreas and also help in to producing the insulin.
- Method: By differentiating stem cells (like cord blood or induced pluripotent stem cells) into islet cells that function normally and then transplanting them.
- Progress: Clinical trials have shown significant success, with some patients achieving insulin independence for extended periods, marking a major step towards a functional cure.
For Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)
- Goal: To improve the body’s ability to produce or use insulin and control blood sugar.
- Method: Stem cell therapy is being applied with a focus on supporting the function of the pancreas and lessening blood sugar levels. Bone marrow-derived stem cells are also part of the stem cell therapies used for such a purpose.
- Progress: Clinical studies demonstrated improved glucose control as well as diminished medication needs. Some patients benefited considerably, while for others, it remained a complementary treatment.
Is Stem Cell Treatment for Diabetes Approved in India?
Yes, stem cell therapy for diabetes is indubitably one of the most innovative and highly researched subjects in the medical field of India. Clinics offering stem cell therapies for treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes are increasing in numbers day by day, thus paving ways for the regeneration of the insulin-producing cells and the overall well-being of the metabolic processes of the body.
The treatment, being under the Indian regulatory authorities like ICMR, has through its clinical trials and practice, illustrated its possible functioning in terms of managing symptoms; the patient ultimately requiring less external insulin and generally having a better quality of life. Hence, the sector is undergoing the stage of innovation. It is a usual occurrence to combine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with the regulatory authorities in order to get the consent of safety and efficacy assurance.
Diabetes Stem Cell Treatment Cost in India
Stem cell therapy for diabetes in India is a very advanced mode of treatment, and mostly experimental, whose primary aim is to restore or regenerate the insulin-producing cells. Most of the time, the total cost of one treatment cycle is around ₹3,00,000 to ₹10,00,000 ($3,600–$12,000), but you will find that different clinics, types of stem cells used (e.g., autologous vs. allogeneic), and case complexity influence the price a lot. Generally, it could be a price breakdown in India:
- Pre-Treatment Consultation & Diagnostics: ₹15,000 – ₹25,000, the visit to the doctor for the first check-up and tests required for the diagnosis are the main features here.
- Stem Cell Harvesting & Processing: ₹1,50,000 – ₹3,00,000, this corresponds to the marrow, fat tissue, etc. collection, and the cells’ preparation in the laboratory.
- Transplantation Procedure: ₹1,00,000 – ₹2,50,000, delivery of the cultured cells, mostly by infusion or local injection.
- Follow-Up Care: ₹20,000 – ₹50,000, post-operative care, including medication and check-ups.
Most of the centres are presenting the total cost within the region of ₹3 to ₹6 lakh, whereas some top-class facilities or advanced protocols may be priced at anywhere between ₹8 and ₹10 lakh.
Note: Stem cell treatment for diabetes has not been fully standardized as a cure and is only supposed to serve as an experimental/regenerative method, complied with certain clinical protocols, hence, costs and results may differ depending on the provider and patient.
Cost Comparison of Diabetes Stem Cell Treatment in Major India Cities and Other Countries
Here are the table for cost comparison in Indian cities and other countries:
India Cities
Breakdown the cost of diabetes stem cell treatment in major cities of India:
| Cities | Cost (INR) | Cost (USD) |
| New Delhi | 4,00,000 to 8,00,000 | 5,000 to 10,000 USD |
| Mumbai | 5,00,000 to 10,00,000 | 6,000 to 12,000 USD |
| Chennai | 4,50,000 to 8,50,000 | 5,500 to 10,500 USD |
| Bangalore | 5,00,000 to 9,00,000 | 6,000 to 11,000 USD |
| Kolkata | 3,50,000 to 7,00,000 | 4,500 to 8,500 USD |
| Hyderabad | 4,00,000 to 7,50,000 | 5,000 to 9,000 USD |
Note:
- That cost may vary based on type of diabetes, number of sessions, and hospital.
- Prices are approximate and can change as per patient’s condition.
Other Country
Here is the approximate cost of diabetes stem cell treatment in different countries:
| Country | Cost(USD) | Cost (INR) |
| India | 5,000 to 12,000 USD | 4,00,000 to 10,00,000 |
| USA | 20,000 to 40,000 USD | 16,50,000 to 33,00,000 |
| UK | 18,000 to 35,000 USD | 15,00,000 to 29,00,000 |
| Germany | 10,000 to 20,000 USD | 12,50,000 to 25,00,000 |
| Thailand | 3,50,000 to 7,00,000 | 8,00,000 to 16,50,000 |
| Mexico | 8,000 to 18,000 USD | 6,50,000 to 15,00,000 |
Note:
- Costs are approximate and depend on clinic, technology, and patient condition.
- India is more affordable compared to the USA & Europe.
Factors Affecting Stem Cell Treatment Cost
The factors given below are the reasons for the cost that can go up and down:
Type of Diabetes
Severity/type of diabetes, along with duration. It will obviously be a deciding factor as to whether one has diabetes type 1 or type 2 for determining the expense. More severe or long-lasting patients may be subjected to intensive treatments with addition of further sessions that will thus escalate the total cost.
Stem Cell Source
Stem cell origin stem cells for treatment can be derived either from the patient him/herself (autologous) or from a donor (allogeneic). Donor cells generally undergo more lab processing and testing, hence, they are more costly than when using your own cells.
Number of Sessions
The patients could be recommended for more than one stem cell therapy session in order to get effective results. Following each additional session, the overall cost will go up.
Hospital or Clinic Standing
Generally, renowned ones with the latest equipment, highly recognized certifications, and offering the most advanced facilities tend to charge more. On the contrary, smaller clinics might have cheaper rates, but their quality and safety should be guaranteed.
Doctor’s Board
Training and expertise of a doctor. A doctor who is highly experienced and/or internationally trained may charge more. Their ability to influence positively treatment outcome is why some centers’ cost are higher.
City or Location
The prices of treatments vary from city to city. Metropolitan cities with lots of activities going on, like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, would have generally higher prices over smaller cities, mainly because of higher operational costs and demand.
Tests and Monitoring
Patients are tested before and after stem cell treatment procedure, and these include laboratory tests, imaging, and regular check-up. Such diagnostic and follow-up services result in additional expenses to the total cost of treatment.
Hospital Stay and Facilities
In some cases, treatment requires the patient to stay in the hospital overnight. Use of a private room, more nursing care, and special facilities will increase the hospital bill more than a standard hospital room or minimum care will do.
Key Advantages of Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes
- Production of Insulin-Generating Cells: Stem cells can be transformed into pancreatic beta cells that are mainly responsible for insulin production. It can help in getting back the body’s natural insulin-glucose balance mechanism.
- Lesser Need for Insulin Injections: If there is a successful beta-cell regeneration, the patients with Type 1 diabetes maybe do not require the daily insulin injections at all or significantly lesser injections.
- Enhanced Glucose Level Control: Stem cell therapy may assist in bringing blood glucose levels back to a normal range and also in lessening the occurrence of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
- Immune System Regulation (Type 1 Diabetes): Some types of stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have the capability to modulate the immune system abnormalities when immune cells attack insulin-producing cells, thus potentially slowing or stopping the disease progression.
- Repair of Diabetes-Related Complications: Over a long period, stem cell treatment has the potential to assist the body in regenerating the tissues that were damaged by diabetes. For instance:
- Diabetic neuropathy damages nerves.
- Diabetic nephropathy damages kidneys.
- Heart and Blood Vessels
- Eyes like diabetic retinopathy
- Enhanced Insulin Sensitivity: Stem cell therapy can potentially lower local inflammation, hence the body will react to insulin appropriately. This is an excellent help for people who have Type 2 diabetes.
- Ability for Tailored Treatment: Utilizing a patient’s own stem cells, such as in the autologous therapy, brings a low incidence of immune rejection and is a more personalized approach to patient care.
Conclusion
Stem cell therapy holds a great promise as a revolutionary approach to managing diabetes through various mechanisms such as supporting insulin production, improving glucose control, and reducing complications. Although the outcomes are positive, this kind of treatment is still basically at the experimental stage. It is therefore necessary to have a correct medical guide, well-regulated clinical trials, and a dose of realistic expectations prior to taking stem cell therapy into consideration.