Exciting new research presented at UEG Week 2024 has revealed a potential game-changer in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D).
A combination of a novel procedure called ReCET (Re-Cellularization via Electroporation Therapy) and the diabetes drug semaglutide has shown remarkable results, with 86% of patients no longer needing insulin therapy.
Type 2 diabetes is a major health issue worldwide, affecting 422 million people. Obesity is a key risk factor for the disease.
Many people with T2D rely on insulin therapy to manage their blood sugar, but this can lead to side effects like weight gain, making diabetes harder to manage.
This research offers hope for a new treatment that could eliminate the need for insulin.
In this first study of its kind, 14 participants aged between 28 and 75, with a range of body mass indexes (BMI) from 24 to 40, underwent the ReCET procedure.
This procedure is designed to improve the body’s sensitivity to its own insulin.
After the procedure, the participants followed a two-week liquid diet, and semaglutide (a drug used to lower blood sugar) was slowly increased to 1 mg per week.
The results were impressive. At both six and 12 months after the treatment, 86% of the participants (12 out of 14) no longer needed insulin.
This success continued at the 24-month follow-up, with all patients maintaining good control of their blood sugar levels (with HbA1c levels below 7.5%).
Most participants tolerated the maximum dose of semaglutide well. Only one person was unable to increase the dose due to nausea.
Importantly, the ReCET procedure itself was safe, and no serious side effects were reported.
Dr. Celine Busch, the lead researcher, said, “These results are very encouraging. The combination of ReCET and semaglutide not only eliminates the need for insulin in most patients, but it also improves their body’s ability to use its own insulin.
This treatment addresses the root cause of diabetes, unlike many current therapies that only manage symptoms.”
Unlike daily drug therapy, the ReCET procedure is “compliance-free,” meaning patients don’t have to stick to a strict daily medication routine. Looking ahead, larger trials will be conducted to confirm these findings.
The research team is now conducting the EMINENT-2 trial, which will compare the effects of ReCET with a placebo (sham) procedure to better understand how the treatment works. This could pave the way for a new and improved treatment option for type 2 diabetes.
Source: KSR.
