Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for diabetes: An umbrella review

This umbrella review synthesizes evidence from 17 systematic reviews and meta-analyses (2016–2025) evaluating the efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy for type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Key findings include significant improvements in glycemic control (HbA1c reduction up to 1.45% in T2DM) and insulin requirements, with Wharton’s jelly-derived and bone marrow-derived MSCs showing superior efficacy. Safety profiles were favorable, with adverse events typically mild (e.g., fever, injection-site reactions). The review highlights the need for standardized protocols and long-term studies to optimize clinical translation. Registered on OSF to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and open access to supplementary materials (PRISMA flowcharts, AMSTAR-2 assessments, and overlap analyses).