Cellular therapy in the management of diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus can be considered a modern-day epidemic that is treatable but not curable with current therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to evaluate whether stem cell transplantation could represent an alternative treatment strategy with curative potential. In March 2025, a comprehensive literature review was conducted across 10 databases. Relevant studies were selected and their results were synthesized through meta-analysis. Outcomes were categorized into two domains: metabolic and secretory. The metabolic outcome showed a mean decrease in glycated hemoglobin of 0.937, while the secretory outcome demonstrated a mean increase in C-peptide secretion of 0.649; however, the latter did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that stem cell therapy exerts a therapeutic effect in patients with diabetes, although the magnitude of this effect is insufficient to support its role as a curative therapy. The observed benefits are most likely mediated by paracrine mechanisms rather than by the differentiation of stem cells into insulin-secreting cells.