Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It requires careful monitoring and effective treatment to reduce the incidence of health complications.
A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC
537 million
worldwide in 2021
11.7 million
Canadians diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes in 2022
700 million
worldwide by 2045
WHAT CAUSES DIABETES?
Diabetes arises when the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin or encounters challenges in utilizing the insulin it generates effectively.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and plays a vital role in maintaining the levels of glucose in your bloodstream. After a meal, insulin reduces glycemia (glucose levels increasing in your bloodstream), bringing blood sugar levels back to normal.
Insulin does this by facilitating the uptake of sugar circulating and permits its storage so that when energy is needed, unused sugar can be readily broken down for use.
Consequently, inadequate or insufficient insulin functioning results in the accumulation of sugar in the blood and hyperglycaemia (excessive blood sugar levels). Without proper treatment, chronic hyperglycemia develops leading a person to become diabetic.
TYPE 1 DIABETES
TYPE 2 DIABETES
5-10% of diabetes cases
90% of diabetes cases
Autoimmune rejection of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells
Insulin receptors are unreceptive or unresponsive to insulin
Insulin therapy
Human islet transplantation
Human islet transplantation
Prevention and intervention through lifestyle changes; insulin therapy required in some cases
DIABETES complications
Cardiovascular complications
Persistently high blood sugar levels increase the risk of developing cardiovascular problems. It can lead to the narrowing and hardening of blood vessels, increasing the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes and peripheral artery disease
Kidney damage
Uncontrolled blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels and filters in the kidney, leading to diabetic nephropathy
Nerve damage
Prolonged exposure can cause damage to nerves throughout the body. This can result in numbness, tingling, pain and weakness, primarily affecting the extremities. Diabetic neuropathy can also affect the digestive system, urinary tract, and other organs
Eye complications
Untreated diabetes can lead to various eye complications. The most common is diabetic retinopathy, which affects blood vessels in the retina and can lead to vision loss or blindness
Other complications
These include a weakened immune system and increased infection risk, a mental health impact, sleep disorders, and sexual and reproductive health issues
Current Medical Devices for Diabetes
Currently there exist management devices such as insulin pens, continuous blood glucose monitors, artificial pancreas systems and infusion sets. However, there is no long-term treatment that does not require daily intervention.
Cellterix’s goal is to improve care and quality of life for diabetic patients by eliminating frustrations that come with current management techniques. We seek to reshape the way diabetes is managed.
Our team is developing vascularized encapsulation devices to transplant cells that secrete insulin continuously without the need for daily external intervention. This approach aims to improve the quality of life for people with diabetes and reduce the risk of complications.
-1.png)