Emerging therapeutic strategies for type 1 diabetes

Modern medical research identifies type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) as one of the most pressing global health challenges, with the incidence steadily increasing by up to 500,000 new cases annually. Current treatment approaches do not provide optimal glycemic control, as they are mainly aimed at compensating for endogenous insulin deficiency, which can significantly compromise patients’ quality of life. For a long time, researchers have sought a treatment strategy capable of achieving a rapid, safe, and reliable cure for T1D. Yet, due to the insufficient understanding of the mechanisms driving the autoimmune response underlying this condition, modern medicine has not been able to develop an etiotropic therapy that could ensure complete recovery. A wide range of therapeutic developments targeting different pathogenetic mechanisms of T1D are currently underway, all aimed at supporting optimal glucose metabolism. Their objectives include preventing or slowing disease progression (delaying the onset of the clinical stage) and facilitating glycemic control in affected patients. Despite substantial progress, none of these innovative strategies has yet reached widespread clinical application. The primary obstacles remain the lengthy timelines required to complete full cycles of clinical trials and the need to address limitations revealed during the research process. This review presents the leading modern approaches to T1DM therapy, with a focus on insulin therapy, immunotherapy, and cell-based strategies. Clinical trial data are analyzed, highlighting both advantages and limitations from practical and economic perspectives. The approaches discussed represent the most promising avenues and are expected to play a central role in future treatment of T1DM.