New Revolutionary Procedure with a Potential to Reverse Diabetes

On Thursday in Dubai, a new clinic opened called King’s College Hospital London.

Among the many sophisticated treatments this clinic offers to UAE residents, one of the highlights is a new revolutionary non-invasive procedure to reverse diabetes.

The consultant endocrinologist, Dr. Rahila Sarwar Bhatti, at KCH’s Dubai clinic said that the name of this revolutionary device is EndoBarrier. EndoBarrier is actually a small tube which is endoscopically positioned in the small intestine that is the upper part of the intestine for 1 year.

What the tube does is that it cuts down nutrients’ transit time. Which in people with diabetes prevents the hormone Glucagon-Like Peptide, i.e., GLP 1 and its production. GLP 1 is a hormone in the gut that triggers insulin production and suppresses appetite.

When it comes to people with diabetes the production of GLP 1 is impaired. However, with the help of the tube, the nutrients reach the lower part of the large and small intestine rapidly. In addition, it sends signals of feeling full.

Glycated Haemoglobin or HbA1c

Last year King’s College Hospital London conducted a study with the EndoBarrier in 2 different UK locations with multi-cultural subjects.

The researchers came to the discovery that with one-third of the patients with diabetes the HbAIc came down from 5.8 to 6 points. In addition, they could get off insulin.

Glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c is actually an indicator of the blood glucose levels for 3 months. This hemoglobin protein in the red blood cells combines with a glucose molecule and turns into glycated hemoglobin.

In fact, HbA1c in non-diabetes is from 5.2 to 5.5 points, in pre-diabetes is from 5.5. to 6 points. And at people that have diabetes is from 6 to 14 points. Meaning the higher the number, the more serious the condition of the patient.

According to Dr. Bhatti, the clinic plans to have other procedures. For instance, like ‘scorching’ of duodenal mucosa in order to trigger the lining’s regeneration that is efficient when it comes to managing diabetes.

These particular treatments will start at KCH Abu Dhabi clinic in 2018 with skilled consultants from the UK like the pioneer in endoscopic procedures Dr. Bu Hayee.

According to Dr. Bhatti at the end of 2017, the consultation for the procedures will start. Also those patients who will be suitable for the procedures will undergo the procedure in the Abu Dhabi clinic.

Consultation for Diabetes

This new clinic was initiated by the director-general of DHA, i.e., Dubai Health Authority, Humaid Al Quatami. He will have a consultation for dermatology, diabetes, family medicine, dentistry, gynecology, obstetrics, biliary and liver disease, ENT, pediatrics, and rheumatology.

According to the UAE’s medical director of KCH, Dr. Simon Fraser this clinic will keep up to the KCH London’s heritage and will follow an ethical practice based on evidence. The clinic will not over-treat, over-investigate and over-medicate a patient.

Their rate regarding prescribing diagnostic tests is around 0.5 % of the total blood test that clinics usually prescribe. In fact, very often the patients in this clinic leave without a prescription.

Furthermore, the doctors are confident that they will manage reduce the country’s health expenditure drastically.

The chief executive officer of KCH UAE, Neil Buckley said that they are launching 3 core health-care concepts for the UAE marker, the Multi-Disciplinary Case Review Boards, the London Faculty, and the London Neuroscience Academy Programme.

Actually, the London Faculty will give access to the world’s best clinicians from UK who are an essential part of the patient’s pathway and who will be present in the UAE every 4 to 6 weeks.

And during the intervening period, the day to day involvement of these clinicians with the UAE patients and doctors is maintained with the local KCH clinicians and telemedicine.

Source Gulf News