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A groundbreaking study presented at UEG Week 2024 has revealed a promising new treatment that could transform the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This innovative approach, combining the Re-Cellularization via Electroporation Therapy (ReCET) procedure with semaglutide, led to 86% of participants successfully stopping insulin therapy. The findings offer hope for a significant shift away from insulin dependence for millions of T2D patients worldwide.
The study, which is the first of its kind in humans, enrolled 14 participants between the ages of 28 and 75, all with varying body mass indices. The ReCET procedure, performed under deep sedation, aims to enhance the body's sensitivity to its own insulin. Following the procedure, participants followed a two-week liquid diet, and then semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, was gradually increased to 1 mg per week. Remarkably, after 24 months, 12 of the 14 patients were still able to maintain glycemic control without the need for insulin, with HbA1c levels remaining below 7.5%.
The implications of this treatment strategy are significant. Insulin therapy, while effective, often comes with challenges, including weight gain and the burden of daily injections. ReCET offers a potential disease-modifying approach by addressing insulin sensitivity at its root. Moreover, as a one-time procedure, ReCET could alleviate the compliance issues associated with daily medication, offering patients a long-term solution with fewer ongoing demands.
As the research continues, larger randomized controlled trials, such as the EMINENT-2 trial, are planned to further explore the efficacy of this approach and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of ReCET. If these results are confirmed, this combined therapy could represent a major leap forward in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.