Scientists Close to Cure Diabetes with Ultrasound

Researchers have demonstrated the ability to prevent or reverse the development of diabetes. (CREDIT: Creative Commons)

Are we getting closer to the day when diabetes will no longer be monitored and controlled with blood sugar tests, insulin injections and medication?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 650 million in 2022. Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body cannot produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that regulates the blood. sugar level.

Diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and amputations. This often leaves people vulnerable to a range of comorbidities, and despite the urgent need for treatment, there are currently no specific long-term therapeutic approaches.

While there is currently no cure for diabetes, researchers are exploring new ways to fight the disease. One promising development is the use of ultrasound for the treatment of diabetes.

What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound is a non-invasive medical procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. Sound waves are emitted by a small portable device called a transducer that is placed on the skin. The sound waves travel through the body and return to the transducer, creating images on the computer screen.

Ultrasound has been used for many years to diagnose and monitor conditions such as pregnancy, heart disease, and cancer. It is a safe and painless procedure that does not use radiation, making it an attractive option for medical imaging.

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How Ultrasound Can Cure Diabetes

Researchers are studying how ultrasound can be used to treat diabetes by targeting the pancreas, the organ responsible for producing insulin. The pancreas is located deep in the abdominal cavity, making it difficult to access with traditional methods of treatment. However, ultrasound can penetrate deep into tissues, allowing it to reach the pancreas.

One approach that researchers use is called histotripsy. Histotripsy is a technique that uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to destroy tissue. In the case of diabetes, researchers use histotripsy to destroy cells in the pancreas that produce glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels. By destroying these cells, the body can better regulate blood sugar levels by reducing the need for insulin.

Another approach that researchers are exploring is called sonoporation. Sonoporation is a technique that uses ultrasound to create tiny pores in cell membranes, allowing drugs or other substances to enter cells more easily. In the case of diabetes, researchers are using sonoporation to deliver insulin-producing cells directly to the pancreas. This approach could potentially eliminate the need for daily insulin injections.

Using ultrasound to treat diabetes has several potential benefits. First, it is a non-invasive procedure that does not require surgery, making it safer and less invasive than conventional treatments. Second, it may be more effective than current treatments because it targets specific cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin. Finally, it could potentially eliminate the need for daily insulin injections, which can be a burden for people with diabetes.

Challenges of Using Ultrasound to Treat Diabetes

While ultrasound has the potential to be an effective treatment for diabetes, there are several issues that researchers need to address. One of the problems is to ensure that the ultrasonic waves affect only those cells of the pancreas that need to be destroyed or processed. If ultrasonic waves affect other cells in the body, it can cause unintended side effects.

Another challenge is to ensure that the ultrasonic waves are strong enough to be effective, but not so strong as to cause damage to surrounding tissues. Researchers must carefully calibrate the ultrasonic waves to ensure they are safe and effective.

Finally, researchers need to ensure that ultrasound treatments are long lasting and do not require frequent repeat treatments. If treatment is not long-term, it may not be effective for people with diabetes.

Despite the challenges, researchers are optimistic about the potential of using ultrasound to treat diabetes. There have been several promising studies in animal models, and human clinical trials are currently underway.

One study published in Scientific Reports in 2019 found that histotripsy can effectively lower blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. Researchers used histotripsy to destroy glucagon-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to improved blood sugar control. The researchers noted that the procedure was safe and did not cause any side effects.

Another study, published in the journal Diabetes in 2021, used sonoporation to deliver insulin-producing cells to the pancreas of diabetic pigs. The researchers found that the procedure was effective in restoring blood sugar control in pigs, and the cells remained functional for at least six months.

Human clinical trials are also ongoing. In one study, researchers use histotripsy to destroy pancreatic cells that produce glucagon in people with type 1 diabetes. Participants are currently being recruited for the study, which is expected to be completed in 2023.

Ultrasound technology can be used to modulate the body’s nervous system. (LETTER: General Electric)

In another study, Christopher Pouleo, Senior Biomedical Engineer at GE Research and corresponding paper author in Nature Biomedical Engineering, is encouraged by the progress his team is making in demonstrating a potential new treatment for diabetes, stating: “We have demonstrated that ultrasound can be used to prevent or reverse diabetes. in these preclinical studies. We are now in the midst of human trials with a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes who are beginning our work on clinical implementation.”

“The use of ultrasound could change the way bioelectronic drugs are used and applied to treat diseases such as type 2 diabetes in the future,” Pouleo added. “Non-pharmaceutical and device-based methods to supplement or replace existing drug therapies may add new therapeutic choices for clinicians and patients in the future.”

Pictured (left to right): Victoria Kotero of GE Research, Senior Research Fellow in Biosciences; Geoffrey Ash, Senior Electrical Engineer; and Christopher Pouleo, Senior Biomedical Engineer, around the GE Research Lab’s Ultrasonic Modulation Device Prototype at the Niskayun, New York Research Campus. (LETTER: General Electric)

Dino Di Carlo, study co-author and professor of bioengineering at the UCLA School of Engineering, said: “Our research shows that focused ultrasound activates neurons through ion channels that are sensitive to mechanical forces. This is a completely new way of interacting with our body and treating diseases.”

Following the published preclinical studies, GE Research and its collaborators were involved in additional preclinical and initial clinical studies investigating the effects of alternating dosages (eg, ultrasound pulse type and duration of treatment). The group will report on these studies later this year.

While researchers have a number of challenges to overcome, human clinical trials are under way and researchers are optimistic about the potential of using ultrasound to treat diabetes. If successful, this could be a significant breakthrough in diabetes management and improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world.

For more science news, visit our New Innovations section at The bright side of the news.

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