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Endobarriers – for weight loss and diabetic control?

Gastric bands have been widely reported on in the press. Some of the results seem amazing. However any form or surgery carries risks and if there was a non invasive way to provide the same result as well as offering the potential to control or indeed to cure Type 2 Diabetes then surely this would be a good idea? Well a  new treatment, using an Endobarrier, is being trialled and some professionals are getting very excited about the prospects. Let’s see what it involves.

Obesity and class 2 diabetes are closely linked. No one knows for sure which causes which or indeed what the full links between the two are. What we do know for sure is that both are a serious and growing threat to our health.Professionals will measure how overweight you are by calculating your body mass index or BMI. If your BMI is over 30 then you are clinically obese.It has been suggested that there are as many as 525 million obese adults worldwide. The figures for diabetes are also quite overwhelming with over 250 million people living with the disease.

The endobarrier offers a non surgical solution to both these health problems. It is basically a plastic tube which is anchored to the duodenal intestine, immediately below your stomach, and it will regulate what food substances re absorbed into your body.It will stop fats, sugars and salts whilst allowing essential vitamins and nutrients to be absorbed. By preventing food from coming into contact with the bowel it can also stop certain hormones  and nerve signals from being released by the intestine.This then reduces the resistance to insulin which lowers the threat of diabetes.

The endobarrier is inserted through the mouth whislt the patient is under general anaesthetic. It should take about 20 minutes and there is no invasive surgery. It will sit inside the patient for 12 months  at the end of which it is quickly removed under a mild local anaesthetic.
It is important to realise that during and after the 12 months there is a suggested diet which as well as eating more healthily also encourages smaller portions and lots of fruit and vegetables. Exercise is also encouraged.

Who is suited for the procedure?


Anyone who Has type 2 diabetesIs and is between 18 and 60.Obese patients ( BMI over 30 and below 50)are also suited to the procedure.Your blood glucose levels are important and anyone showing over 7.5% but under 10.5% for their HbA1c should qualify. Another indicator of suitability would be a patient taking either oral glycemics or less than 150 units per day.

What might stop the endobarrier being fitted?


Anyone who
Has stomach ulcers (peptic ulcers)Has bleeding disorders (eg people with haemophilia or on anti-arthritis drugs)Has had major digestive surgery in the past

Are there any side effects?
Minor but you do get slight bloating and occassionally abdominal pains.

Let us all hope that this new procedure really does offer a good way forward for the treatment and control of these two major health problems.

 

 

Citations:
  • Review facts

 

Article written by Mike Holly. Mike lives and works in the North of England and has been researching cottages throughout Northumberland.