To Heal Diabetic Foot Ulcers, A New Drug Harnesses Stem Cells Inside Us All

Diabetic foot ulcers are the primary cause of hospital admissions for diabetics. Foot ulcers that heal improperly are at risk for infection, which can lead to amputation. According to the American Diabetes Association, one in four patients with diabetic foot ulcers will eventually require lower-limb amputation. Now science has found a way of mobilizing stem cells within the body to treat this health issue, which affects more than three million Americans annually.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as distinct from the embryonic type, may be the key to healing diabetic foot ulcers. These stem cells can differentiate into various cell types. As a fetus develops, MSCs help drive its rapid initial growth; by the time we reach our teens, however, MSCs are mostly found in bone marrow.

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