New Procedure Offers Hope for Type 2 Diabetes Patients
A groundbreaking new procedure may soon put an end to the daily discomfort of insulin injections for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Insulin remains a crucial component of managing the condition, but the process can be uncomfortable and requires careful administration. However, recent scientific advancements have led to the discovery that mild electric pulses applied to the lining of the small intestine can effectively control blood sugar levels, just like insulin injections.
According to a recent clinical trial, 86 percent of type 2 diabetes patients who underwent the one-hour procedure were able to manage their condition through diet and pills alone, completely eliminating their need for insulin. This offers hope to the millions of individuals worldwide who struggle with type 2 diabetes, a disease often linked to poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, and obesity.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce sufficient insulin or when cells become resistant to the hormone. Over time, uncontrolled blood sugar levels can damage vital organs and restrict blood flow. While drugs like metformin and lifestyle changes can improve insulin efficacy, approximately a quarter of patients eventually require daily injections of synthetic insulin, complicating their treatment regimen.
The new procedure, known as ReCET (re-cellularisation via electroporation therapy), presents an exciting possibility for type 2 diabetes patients currently dependent on insulin. By delivering gentle electric pulses to the lining of the duodenum—the first part of the small intestine—via an endoscope, the therapy stimulates the regeneration of healthy insulin-responsive cells, effectively improving blood sugar control.
Following the procedure, the 14 patients in the trial embarked on a week-long liquid diet to facilitate healing of the gut. They were then prescribed semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic), a diabetes medication designed to stimulate proper insulin release by the pancreas. While semaglutide on its own can sometimes enable type 2 diabetes patients to discontinue insulin use, the combination of the drug with ReCET proved highly successful, with 86 percent of treated individuals achieving good blood sugar control without relying on insulin. Importantly, no significant side effects were reported.
Researchers from Amsterdam University Medical Center, who presented their findings at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago, are currently conducting larger studies to further evaluate the treatment’s effectiveness. These studies will compare ReCET with a placebo, providing an opportunity to assess the therapy’s true potential.
This is not the first time that gut procedures have shown promise in treating type 2 diabetes. Gastric bypass surgery, for example, has been found to cure the disease even before patients experience significant weight loss. By triggering hormonal changes in the gut, the surgery promotes more stable blood sugar levels. Other studies have explored ablation techniques, but these can potentially damage the gut lining.
Dr. Ahmed R. Ahmed, a bariatric surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, commented on ReCET, suggesting that the one-off therapy combined with oral medications could replicate the effects of gastric bypass surgery. He did, however, advise caution, emphasizing the need to ascertain the duration of the treatment’s benefits.
As researchers continue to investigate this novel procedure, individuals with type 2 diabetes have reason to hope for a future free from daily insulin injections. With ongoing studies and advancements in medical technology, alternatives like ReCET offer renewed optimism for managing this chronic condition.
