The landmark discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by Shinya 
Yamanaka has transformed regenerative biology. Previously, insights into the 
pathogenesis of chronic human diseases have been hindered by the inaccessibility 
of patient samples. However, scientists are now able to convert patient 
fibroblasts into iPSCs and differentiate them into disease-relevant cell types. 
This ability opens new avenues for investigating disease pathogenesis and 
designing novel treatments. In this review, we highlight the uses of human iPSCs 
to uncover the underlying causes and pathological consequences of diabetes and 
metabolic syndromes, multifactorial diseases whose etiologies have been 
difficult to unravel using traditional methodologies.