Imagine if type 2 diabetes patients no longer had to inject insulin every day—or needed insulin at all! A groundbreaking study from the Netherlands has made this a reality. By combining the innovative ReCET technique with semaglutide, scientists enabled 86% of participants to completely eliminate insulin injections after treatment! This study was published in the 2024 Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Journal (GIE), Volume 99, Issue 6, Supplement.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a common chronic metabolic disorder caused by insulin resistance and declining insulin function, which leads to elevated blood glucose levels. Its risk factors include obesity, unhealthy diet, and genetics, and while it often affects middle-aged and older adults, it is increasingly diagnosed in younger people. T2D accounts for about 90-95% of all diabetes cases globally, affecting over 400 million people worldwide.
On October 14, at the 2024 United European Gastroenterology Week (UEG Week 2024), Celine Busch, a Ph.D. candidate and research associate from the Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, and her team presented these revolutionary findings.
What is ReCET? ReCET, short for Re-Cellularization via Electroporation Therapy, uses a special electroporation technique to reshape cellular functions, particularly enhancing insulin sensitivity in intestinal cells. This approach tackles the root of T2D—insulin resistance—by helping the body better utilize its natural insulin, reducing the need for external injections.
Semaglutide, a widely used diabetes medication administered just once a week, complements ReCET by helping regulate blood glucose, suppress glucagon release, and slow gastric emptying. Together, these effects aid in glucose control and weight management.
By first enhancing insulin sensitivity with ReCET, followed by semaglutide, patients can achieve effective glucose control and significantly reduce their reliance on insulin.
In a 24-month clinical trial involving 14 participants, results showed that 86% no longer required insulin following treatment, with all maintaining safe blood glucose levels as indicated by HbA1c levels under 7.5%.
In addition to its remarkable effectiveness, this therapy also demonstrated excellent safety. Most participants tolerated semaglutide well, with only a few reporting mild side effects such as nausea.
This study represents a groundbreaking shift in diabetes care, offering millions of type 2 diabetes patients newfound hope—not just for managing diabetes but for fundamentally improving the body’s insulin response, potentially transforming treatment approaches. Gone could be the days of daily insulin injections, replaced with once-weekly medication management, greatly simplifying life for patients.
With additional clinical trials underway, scientists are delving deeper into the mechanisms behind ReCET, confirming its effectiveness and long-term safety. If successfully adopted on a large scale, this approach could usher in a new era of type 2 diabetes treatment.
Reference: “Durable effects of duodenal ablation using electroporation combined with semaglutide to eliminate insulin therapy in patients with type-2 diabetes; the 24-month results,” Celine Busch et al., Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Volume 99, Issue 6, Supplement AB739, DOI: 10.1016/j.gie.2024.04.1784. Also available on ScienceDirect.