10
NEWS
Gastric bypass and T2D
Recent research has found that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery
produces high rates of Type 2 diabetes remission five years after the
operation, even if patients have regained a significant amount of weight. This
compares to sleeve gastrectomy (SG), where Type 2 diabetes is five times
more likely to return amongst those who regain weight following surgery
The study looked at patients with a baseline body mass index of ≥ 35 and
preoperative diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes: 224 had undergone successful
primary RYGB and 46 had received SG. At follow-up (average 8.1 and 7.3 years
for RYGB and SG, respectively), the overall rate of continued T2D remission
was found to be significantly higher in the RYGB group (75%) than in the SG
group (34.8%).
Despite weight recurrence not being found to be an independent factor
associated with Type 2 diabetes recurrence, its importance cannot be
overlooked. However, some patients with complete weight recurrence after
RYGB maintained significant continued diabetes remission, further supporting
a potential role of the proximal small intestines in metabolic control that is
less dependent on the weight loss achieved through gastric restriction."
Stem cell transplant to arm
A revolutionary new treatment for Type 1 diabetes has been unveiled, which
involves growing insulin-producing cells in a lab and transplanting them into a
patient's arm.
In the last few decades a small number of people have had donated insulinproducing
cells injected into the portal vein, which takes them to the liver. But
there are supply issues and this new technique would be much less invasive.
The clinical trial is currently underway involves islet cells from human
donors being transplanted just below the skin into the forearms of eight
people with Type 1 diabetes.
The long-term aim is to be able to take stem cells, which have the potential
to turn into almost any other kind of cell, and to coax them into becoming
insulin-producing 'islets' which could be transplanted into the arm. However,
much larger-scale testing would be needed before it could be rolled out.
The company is also developing a type of 'nanosensor' that goes inside the
transplanted cells, which could give an early warning if the transplant is being
rejected by a recipient.
Prof Choudhary DVLA role
Professor Pratik Choudhary has been appointed Chair of the Secretary of State for Transport's Honorary Medical
Advisory Panel on driving and diabetes.
The purpose of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) six medical advisory panels is to provide the
Secretary of State for Transport with expert advice to set the medical standards and shape policy and guidelines for
more than 50 million driving licence holders to maintain and improve road safety.
Choudhary is a Professor at the University of Leicester, previously with Kings College Hospital, London and a
founding member of the Diabetes Technology Network (DTN) with a special interest in Type 1 diabetes and technology
and has active clinical and research programmes around education, psychology, and technology in Type 1 diabetes.
He commented, "The rules around driving with diabetes are complicated, but in this role, I plan to work with the
DVLA to make things as straightforward as they can be for people living with diabetes. I also want to work with the
DVLA on the potential for greater use of technology in diabetes, while at the same time making sure that the rules and
regulations are appropriate to maintain safety on the road."
Update on
research
funding
Professor Claire Meek at the
University of Leicester is leading
one of five global research
projects receiving part of £1.5
million funding from JDRF and the
Helmsley Charitable Trust to access
a unique database which could help
prevent type 1 diabetes.
Professor Meek is partnering
with the Environmental
Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity
(ENDIA) Study. Pioneering in its
approach, this study monitors
close relatives of people with Type
1 diabetes, beginning when they
are still in the womb, to investigate
the intricate relationship between
environmental factors and an
individual's genes. The primary goal
is to unravel the role these factors
play in initiating and influencing the
development of Type 1 diabetes.
ENDIA has collected over
200,000 unique biological samples
- such as blood, immune cells,
breast milk, nasal swabs, stool,
and urine samples - along with 16
million medical observations from
1500 people with a parent or sibling
diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
JDRF and Helmsley have
supported ENDIA since 2015.