New Single-Injection Diabetes Treatment to Launch in Cleveland Next Month
CLEVELAND, OH – A potentially life-saving treatment for severe Type 1 diabetes will become available to patients in Northeast Ohio next month, offered exclusively at University Hospitals (UH). The innovative therapy involves a single injection of cells from a deceased donorS pancreas,aiming to restore the body’s ability to regulate insulin levels.
For patients battling diabetic ketoacidosis – a risky complication where individuals lose the ability to detect critical blood sugar fluctuations – this treatment offers a new hope. “I have had patients who never woke up from their sleep,” said Betul Hatipoglu, medical director of the Diabetes & Metabolic Care Center at UH. “I had patients who had car accidents from hypoglycemia, never recovered fully from brain damage that they had.” The therapy is designed for extreme cases, functioning as a last resort for those facing the most severe consequences of the disease.
Diabetic ketoacidosis can rapidly lead to seizures, unconsciousness, coma, and even death. The treatment, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023 and currently available at four other sites nationwide, works by essentially replacing the function of a failing pancreas. Hatipoglu likened the approach to treating cancer or congestive heart failure, stating, “You are looking at this disease like it’s… an end stage diabetes.”
However, the treatment isn’t without risks. Patients will be carefully screened to ensure they are cancer-free and have good kidney function, as the therapy can increase susceptibility to infections, raise the risk of skin cancer, and potentially damage kidney function.
UH will begin accepting applications for the treatment through its hospital website within a month. Most health insurance plans are expected to cover the procedure due to its FDA approval. This new offering marks a critically importent advancement in diabetes care for the region, providing a critical option for patients facing life-threatening complications.
