AACE MENA 2025-Prevention and Cure, Current and Future for Type 1 Diabetes

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This detailed presentation explores prevention, current treatments, and future prospects for type 1 diabetes (T1D). T1D incidence is rising, affecting both children and older adults. Early diagnosis before diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is crucial for better long-term control. The disease progresses through stages defined by the presence of autoantibodies and blood sugar levels, enabling risk prediction and early intervention. Screening is mainly done in first-degree relatives, despite most patients lacking family history. Recently, the FDA approved teplizumab, an anti-CD3 antibody, to delay progression from stage 2 to full diabetes, although it requires prolonged infusions and immunosuppression.<br /><br />Regarding cures and advanced therapy, hypoglycemia management remains a challenge, often limiting glycemic control. Pancreas and islet cell transplants offer hypoglycemia remission but require immunosuppression and have risks. Islet transplantation has improved safety but limited long-term insulin independence, though it effectively reduces severe hypoglycemia. FDA-approved allogeneic islet cell therapy (Latendra) is now available for severe hypoglycemia cases.<br /><br />Exciting future developments include stem cell–derived islet therapies like VX880, showing promising results with many patients achieving insulin independence, though still requiring immunosuppression. Novel gene-editing approaches aim to create universal donor cells that escape immune rejection without immunosuppression. Additionally, reprogramming patients’ own fat cells into insulin-producing cells shows potential. Overall, advances in early detection, immune modulation, and cell replacement therapies herald a transformative era for T1D management.

Keywords

type 1 diabetes

early diagnosis

autoantibodies

teplizumab

islet transplantation

hypoglycemia management

stem cell therapy