Type 2 diabetes: Experimental therapy could remove need for insulin

If effective, the therapy may mean that some people can stop taking insulin treatment.The authors of the research presented their findings at UEG Week Virtual 2020, a conference organized by United European Gastroenterology, a professional nonprofit organization for specialists in digestive health.According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a person may have type 2 diabetes when their blood sugar is too high.People gain blood sugar, or blood glucose, mainly from the food they eat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 10 adults in the United States have diabetes, and 90–95% of these individuals have type 2 diabetes.Doctors typically recommend lifestyle changes, such as being more physically active and eating a more healthful diet, to treat type 2 diabetes, as well as medications to manage a person’s blood pressure and blood glucose levels.Insulin treatment may be necessary if a person is unable to maintain their blood sugar at normal levels. Fat in the participants’ livers reduced from 8.1% to 4.6% after 6 months.Even for the participants who still needed insulin, the required amount reduced from an average of 35 units per day to 17 units per day after 12 months.According to Dr. Suzanne Meiring, a researcher at the Amsterdam University Medical Center, the Netherlands, and co-lead of the study, “A single endoscopic DMR ablation with GLP-1 drugs and lifestyle counseling can lead to discontinuation of insulin therapy in a subset of patients with type 2 diabetes while improving their blood glucose control and overall metabolic health.”“Many patients with type 2 diabetes are very happy to be able to discontinue insulin therapy, since insulin therapy comes with weight gain and hypoglycemic events.”It is important to note that this is a very small proof-of-concept study.