Doctors of the University Hospital “José Eleuterio González” carried out a research protocol that seeks to improve the quality of life of people suffering from diabetes. This treatment is carried out in twelve weeks, during which time the patient is under observation.
The treatment consists of a transplant of stem cells of the anthologous type because they are cells of the same patient that is injected into one of his legs; This project is focused on patients who have diabetes mellitus, that is, a chronic disease.
“It’s a cell regeneration research project, it’s best known for transplanting stem cells; In this case, the transplant is not an umbilical cord but rather stem cells that originate from the bone marrow of the same patients, “explained Dr. Gerardo Muñoz.
The first patient who was under this treatment was Mrs. Yolanda Guajardo Gómez, 72 years old, who has had diabetes for 20 years and blood circulation problems in her legs; she entered the protocol in October 2006.
When Mrs. Yolanda started her treatment, this disease caused her a lot of pain in her legs and she walked very short distances no more than a block due to the intense pain that this caused her; As the days went by, she began to feel better with this treatment, now the patient can walk more.
“At first I got tired walking, I walked a block and I had to sit down because I could not, but after this treatment my life improved a lot because, even, I am currently walking normally and I felt pretty good; with a painless treatment, I did the test and I can walk the kilometer I walked before, “said Guajardo Gómez.
Until March 2007, there are already six other people under this research protocol in different stages each, these patients have shown an improvement equal to or greater than that of Mrs. Yolanda Guajardo.
The candidates for this treatment are diabetics who range between 18 and 75 years of age with the diabetic foot of arterial origin, with a peripheral arterial disease, with pain or cramps while walking or resting.
This treatment is totally free and due to the high cost of the technology used in this protocol, only a limited number of patients can be had under this investigation; So far, we are working with six people and there is a quota of seven other people who are candidates to receive this procedure.
