Gastrointestinal devices for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy as a Treatment Option for Adults with Diabetes Mellitus

Obesity is a major factor in the worldwide rise in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The obesity "epidemic" will require novel, effective interventions to permit both the prevention and treatment of diabetes caused by obesity. Laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a newer bariatric surgical procedure with a lower risk of complications (compared to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery). Based in part on restriction of daily caloric intake, sleeve gastrectomy has a major role in inducing significant weight loss and weight loss is maintained for at least 10 years. Prior studies have supported the utility of the vertical sleeve gastrectomy for the treatment and management of subgroups of individuals with diabetes mellitus. There are reports of 11% to 76.9% of obese individuals discontinuing use of diabetic medications in studies lasting up to 8 years after vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Major ongoing issues include the preoperative determination of the suitability of diabetic patients to undergo this bariatric surgical procedure. Understanding how this surgical procedure is performed and the resulting anatomy is important when vertical sleeve gastrectomy is being considered as a treatment option for diabetes. In the postoperative periods, specific macronutrient goals and micronutrient supplements are important for successful and safer clinical results. An understanding of immediate- and long term- potential complications is important for reducing the potential risks of vertical sleeve gastrectomy. This includes the recognition and treatment of postoperative nutritional deficiencies and disorders. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a component of a long term, organized program directed at treating diabetes related to obesity. This approach may result in improved patient outcomes when vertical sleeve gastrectomy is performed to treat type 2 diabetes in obese individuals.

Minireview: Current status of endoscopic duodenal mucosal resurfacing

Several strategies are being pursued to overcome the alarming pandemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In recent years, duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR) has shown its potential to improve glycemic indices. Following animal studies, which demonstrated feasibility and safety, the procedure has been applied in two human studies. The DMR procedure has been considered feasible and safe in humans with a limited occurrence of complications and adverse events. Reductions in glycated haemoglobin, weight, fasting plasma glucose, and alanine transaminase have been proven at different follow-up time-points. The length of the ablation may induce different outcomes, having the patients with long duodenal segment ablated showed greater beneficial effects. The current evidence does not still prove the apparent insulin-sensitizing mechanism explaining the impact of the DMR procedure on hepatic glucose production. However, the initial findings have demonstrated a positive risk-benefit ratio and an effect on the treatment of metabolic diseases, such as T2D. Future studies should clarify the mechanisms underlying the positive effects and durability of the treatment using controlled trial conditions on larger number of patients.

Gastrointestinal Hormones Manipulation to Counteract Metabolic Syndrome Using Duodenal Targeted Embolization

PURPOSE

Targeted embolization of gastrointestinal (GI) arteries can modify hormonal production. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the embolization of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) on the activity of foregut mucosa.

METHODS

The GDA's duodenal branch was embolized in 12 Yucatan pigs using 100-300 µm (group A; n = 4) or 300-500 µm (group B; n = 4) microspheres, followed by coiling of the branch. In 4 animals (sham), only saline was injected. The levels of GI hormones (ghrelin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide [GIP], glucagon-like peptide-1 [GLP-1], insulin, peptide YY [PYY], leptin) and the gene expression of sodium-glucose-linked transporter-1 (SGLT-1) and glucose transporter-2 (GLUT-2) were assessed before (T0), 1 hour (T1), 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T4) after embolization.

RESULTS

In group A, a segmental duodenal stenosis occurred in all cases, which required balloon dilatation. There was a significant drop in the baseline glycemia in group A at T1 and T4 versus sham. Ghrelin was reduced in group A versus baseline and versus group B at T2 and T3 and versus sham at T1 and T3. Insulin was significantly lower in group A versus B at T1 and at T4 but not versus sham. SGLT-1 expression increased in B and sham at T4, while it remained stable in group A. GLUT-2 expression increased in sham at T4 but not in A or B.

CONCLUSIONS

GDA embolization induced a decrease in ghrelin production and influenced expression of glucose carriers in the foregut mucosa.

Current and future impact of clinical gastrointestinal research on patient care in diabetes mellitus

The worldwide rise in the prevalence of obesity supports the need for an increased interaction between ongoing clinical research in the allied fields of gastrointestinal medicine/surgery and diabetes mellitus. There have been a number of clinically-relevant advances in diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome emanating from gastroenterological research. Gastric emptying is a significant factor in the development of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. However, it is not the only mechanism whereby such symptoms occur in patients with diabetes. Disorders of intrinsic pacing are involved in the control of stomach motility in patients with gastroparesis; on the other hand, there is limited impact of glycemic control on gastric emptying in patients with established diabetic gastroparesis. Upper gastrointestinal functions related to emptying and satiations are significantly associated with weight gain in obesity. Medications used in the treatment of diabetes or metabolic syndrome, particularly those related to pancreatic hormones and incretins affect upper gastrointestinal tract function and reduce hyperglycemia and facilitate weight loss. The degree of gastric emptying delay is significantly correlated with the weight loss in response to liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 analog. Network meta-analysis shows that liraglutide is one of the two most efficacious medical treatments of obesity, the other being the combination treatment phentermine-topiramate. Interventional therapies for the joint management of obesity and diabetes mellitus include newer endoscopic procedures, which require long-term follow-up and bariatric surgical procedure for which long-term follow up shows advantages for individuals with diabetes. Newer bariatric procedures are presently undergoing clinical evaluation. On the horizon, combination therapies, in part directed at gastrointestinal functions, appear promising for these indications. Ongoing and future gastroenterological research when translated to care of individuals with diabetes mellitus should provide additional options to improve their clinical outcomes.