After the almost miraculous cure of this Chinese woman suffering from type 1 diabetes, a new therapeutic approach offers hope this time to patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). As a reminder, the two conditions, although they have a similar name, are different.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease where the immune system, failing, attacks the cells of the pancreas which produce insulin. The body is therefore completely deprived of this hormone, essential for regulating blood sugar levels. People who have it need lifelong insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes (T2D), on the other hand, is characterized by the body’s resistance to insulin or insufficient production of insulin. It is often linked to factors like obesity, lifestyle and age. It can sometimes be managed by patients with dietary changes, physical activity, and medications, in addition to or instead of insulin.
The results of this treatment method discussed here for patients with T2D were presented at UEG Week 2024 (annual congress of the United European Gastroenterology). They show that 86% of participants were able to stop their insulin treatment.
A new therapeutic strategy
This new protocol combines the ReCET (Re-Cellularization via Electroporation Therapy) procedure, a medical technique that restores the body’s sensitivity to its own insulin and semaglutide (medication that increases insulin production). Everything is done under deep sedation.
After the procedure, patientsfollow a liquid diet for two weekswhich maintains a constant calorie intake (isocaloric liquid diet). During this fortnight, they also receive progressive doses of semaglutide up to 1 mg per week.
Spectacular long-term results
The pilot studyconducted on 14 participants aged 28 to 75 with varying body mass indices (24 to 40 kg/m²), reveals remarkable results. Twelve out of fourteen patients were able to completely stop their insulin treatmenta success which was maintained for two years. Never seen before!
Even more impressive, their blood sugar levels remained under control, with HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) levels below 7.5%. Such a level generally indicates good diabetes control, because it shows that blood sugar levels have remained within a healthy range. Tolerance of the treatment was also found to be excellent: 93% of participants tolerated the maximum dose of semaglutidewith only one patient having to reduce the dose due to nausea.
Treat at the source for true healing
Dr Celine Busch, lead author of the study, explains: “ Unlike drug treatments that require daily intake, ReCET does not require strict monitoring, thus solving the crucial problem of long-term compliance in patients with type 2 diabetes. “. Unlike other therapeutic approaches, this directly attacks the causes of the disease by improving sensitivity to endogenous insulin (produced by the body), rather than simply controlling symptoms.
To confirm these encouraging results, the research team is launching the EMINENT-2 trial, a larger study that will compare the ReCET procedure to a placebo treatmentalways in association with semaglutide. “ We are currently carrying out this trial with the same criteria for selecting participants and administering semaglutide, but this time some will receive a sham procedure and others the ReCET treatment. The study also aims to understand how exactly ReCET works » explains Dr. Busch. Fingers crossed, this therapy could, in the long term, changing the lives of 422 million people with T2DM across the world.
- A new therapy combining ReCET and semaglutide enabled 86% of type 2 diabetic patients to switch off insulin.
- This approach restores the body’s sensitivity to its own insulin and provides lasting blood sugar control.
- Additional trials are underway to validate these promising results on a larger scale.
