Groundbreaking Treatment Cures Type 1 Diabetes Patients

University of Chicago study shows patients able to stop insulin injections after islet cell transplant.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:50pm

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A clinical trial at the University of Chicago Medicine Transplant Institute has successfully cured 10 patients with type 1 diabetes, allowing them to stop insulin injections after undergoing a transplant of insulin-producing islet cells. The patients also saw their blood sugar levels return to normal ranges within just four weeks of the procedure.

Why it matters

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that affects up to 4 million Americans, for whom insulin injections are a lifelong necessity. This breakthrough treatment offers hope for a permanent cure, potentially transforming the lives of those living with this chronic condition.

The details

In the trial, 10 type 1 diabetic patients received transplants of islet cells, tiny clusters of specialized cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. After the transplant, the patients also took a drug called tegoprubart to prevent their bodies from rejecting the new cells. Within just four weeks, all 10 patients achieved insulin independence, meaning their bodies were able to produce insulin on their own without the need for costly supplemental injections. The patients' blood sugar levels, as measured by A1C, also returned to non-diabetic ranges.

  • The initial findings of the study were published last year.
  • The updated results were unveiled earlier this month.

The players

University of Chicago Medicine Transplant Institute

The research team that conducted the groundbreaking clinical trial on islet cell transplants for type 1 diabetes patients.

Aaron Kowalski

CEO of Breakthrough T1D, an organization that helped fund the research.

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What they’re saying

“It is exciting to see islet transplant recipients in this trial who no longer need to administer insulin and who are experiencing fewer side effects than with traditional immunosuppressive regimens.”

— Aaron Kowalski, CEO, Breakthrough T1D

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue monitoring the patients to ensure the long-term success of the treatment and explore ways to make the procedure more widely available.

The takeaway

This groundbreaking treatment represents a major milestone in the fight against type 1 diabetes, offering the potential for a permanent cure and the chance for patients to live without the daily burden of insulin injections. The success of this trial could pave the way for wider adoption of islet cell transplants as a transformative therapy for those living with this chronic condition.