Skin cells that can make insulin

SKIN cells from patients with mature onset diabetes (which is different from either type 1 or type 2) have been transformed into insulinproducing cells. It’s a breakthrough that could spell the end of insulin injections.

Scientists from the University of Bergen in Norway took human skin cells and added chemical compounds to turn them back into stem cells, which have the ability to transform into any cell. According to their study, in the journal Scientific Reports, they then added cells from the pancreas (where insulin is made) of a deceased donor and potassium chloride to trigger the skin cells into making the hormone insulin.

The next step is to get the cells to produce insulin in response to glucose (blood sugar).