Rare diabetic reversal procedure to make its way to the UAE soon

In the UAE, 19 per cent of the population has diabetes.

A minimally invasive endoscopic procedure that uses thermal treatment could mean good news for diabetic patients as results have shown the condition reversing. 
Dr Bu Hayee, a consultant gastroenterologist, and one of the pioneers in diabetes reversal surgeries told Khaleej Times that he will soon be bringing the 'Revita DMR' procedure to the UAE.
He is one of the 25 doctors in the world who can perform this procedure, which increases the absorption of glucose and can halt diabetes in its tracks. In the UAE, 19 per cent of the population has diabetes.
The procedure is currently being done in the UK, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Brazil. "First, this is not surgery - it is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure. There are no incisions, no stitches, and it is done on an ambulatory basis (much shorter recovery times, often on the same day)," he explained.
The Revita DMR procedure is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure that starts by introducing a flexible camera through the mouth (called an endoscope) past the stomach and into the duodenum (the first part of the intestine after the stomach).
Under the visual guidance of the endoscope, a catheter with a balloon mounted on its end is then advanced into the duodenum. Thereafter, hot water is passed into the balloon catheter for less than 10 seconds; this thermal treatment modifies the cells that lie along the surface of the duodenum that is responsible for absorbing glucose and releasing hormones into the body that impair glucose control giving rise to Type 2 diabetes. Patients are often released on the same day the procedure is performed.
Over 150 patients have been treated to date. In a publication of the first 40+ patients, a drop in HbA1c of 1.8 percentage points was seen in the target population at six months follow up. The rest are being followed up and will be reported on in 2018. 
Patients over 18 years old, who have poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes, are eligible for this procedure. 
"'Poorly controlled' is defined as patients with diabetes who are on at least one oral medication (pills), but are not yet injecting insulin," said the doctor.
In the studies, patients needed to have an HbA1c (a three month average of glucose in the blood) between 7.5 per cent and 11.0 per cent. 
"Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease. Patients will start on oral medication and in many cases, will require insulin to maintain their glucose control. While long-term studies with Revita are still ongoing, the procedure is expected to prevent a patient from progressing on to insulin," said Dr Hayee, who is also a visiting doctor at the Kings College Hospital London in the UAE.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
 

• UAE
• Dubai