A controversial stem cell treatment tested in Brazil has freed patients with type-1 diabetes from dependence on insulin. Since the treatment some patients have been able to stop from injecting the drug for years. Even the eight who relapsed have been on lower doses of insulin than beforehand, and still have higher levels of C-peptide, suggesting that their islet cells have benefitted from the treatment. Two became insulin-independent again after receiving the sugar-lowering drug, sitagliptin.

But the treatment didn't work in three patients, and nine men later suffered from low sperm counts. Another two suffered from pneumonia. None of the patients died.

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