Knee Stem Cells and Diabetes

The use of stem cells to treat knee pain and knee conditions is increasing. Not all patients are young healthy athletes. Some patients who desire knee stem cells have other medical issues including diabetes.

Diabetes can have impact on many areas of the body. It is not just a blood sugar problem. Diabetics are prone to hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, eye problems, and even skin changes.

Diabetes is also associated with an increase incidence of obesity and osteoarthritis or joint arthritis. Obesity can accelerate knee arthritis by increase load on the knee joint.

Diabetes and obesity both have elevations of inflammatory mediators which can exacerbate joint arthritis. Arthritis is not just a wear and tear phenomenon. Scientific studies now reveal a more complex multi-factorial process involved in the development and progression of joint osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is also under genetic influences as well as trauma induce changes. Changes to the joint may be at the cellular level. Cellular level changes in the knee are under cell signaling influences from inflammatory mediators, just as occur in diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

Stem cells may influence in a positive fashion these inflammatory signals that cause knee joint degradation. By countering the inflammatory mediators with anti-inflammatory signals joint stability can occur. The best outcome is joint repair. In the presence of other disease states such as diabetes, it is imperative to treat with an expert in Regenerative Medicine that understands the complexity of treating knees with stem cells in more complicated patients.
Dennis M. Lox, MD, is an expert in Sports and Regenerative Medicine. He has special expertise in the use of treating knees with stem cells in athletes as well as the more complicated patients.

A cookie cutter approach is not best for all patients. Patients need an individualized treatment strategy to achieve optimal success.