Diabetes Volunteers Sought

The University of Auckland is seeking volunteers to undergo a treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes affects nearly a quarter of a million New Zealanders. Commonly also known as ‘lifestyle’ diabetes, sufferers have high blood sugar levels. Complications associated with diabetes  can lead to complications with many body organs.

Even with lifestyle changes and medication, nearly half the people with type2 diabetes are still unable to reduce their blood sugar to acceptable levels.

Earlier this year, patients in Auckland and Dunedin were the first in the world to have a novel treatment for type2 diabetes. The trial is now looking for another 20 participants for the study over the next 12 months.

The COMPLEMENT trial is a first-in-human study of Metabolic Neuromodulation Therapy (MNT) and is being conducted exclusively in New Zealand.

Diabetes physician and University of Auckland senior lecturer, Dr Rinki Murphy, says MNT for type2 diabetes involves a single catheter-based procedure designed to change the nerve signals to the liver and other organs to improve blood sugars to more normal levels.

“Nearly half of patients with type2 diabetes are unable to adequately control their blood sugars despite multiple medication options, and are at risk of significant and costly complications,” she says. “New treatments for type2 diabetes are critically needed given that type2 diabetes has reached near-epidemic proportions here in New Zealand, and globally.”

The COMPLEMENT Study aims to investigate whether a new, single-time procedure designed to deliver radiofrequency energy to the walls of the hepatic artery is safe and effective in the treatment of type2 diabetes using a medical device called the Metabolic Neuromodulation System.

Treatment with the catheter device, similar to what is used for many cardiovascular procedures, involves passing a flexible tube through the femoral artery in the right groin into the artery that leads to the liver.

Radiofrequency energy is then passed through the end of the catheter into the wall of one of the liver arteries to disrupt the nerves that lead to the liver. Previous research has shown that disrupting these nerves may lead to a lowering of blood sugar levels, which may help to achieve better diabetic control.

People aged 18-70 who have blood sugar (A1C) above 58 mmol/mol and are on an oral glucose lowering medicine called metformin are potential candidates for the trial.

Interested people should contact one of the study coordinators at the centres listed below.

For more information on how to take part, please contact study co-ordinator Jan Burd at Auckland City hospital on (09) 307 4949, extension 24365 or email: JBurd@adhb.govt.nz.