Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting millions worldwide. It occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Over time, diabetes can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, blood vessels, and nerves.
Approximately 537 million people worldwide are living with diabetes. Of these, around 95 percent have type 2 diabetes. This number is only projected to rise.
From insulin pumps to medication, there are several treatments available to improve the lives of diabetics.
Now, scientists have tested ultrasound to cure type 2 diabetes successfully
A team of researchers from the Yale School of Medicine, UCLA, and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research used short bursts of ultrasound to stimulate specific sensory nerves in the liver. The unique non-invasive ultrasound method can effectively lower insulin and glucose levels.
The researchers explained: “We used this technique to explore stimulation of an area of the liver called the porta hepatis.”
“This region contains the hepatoportal nerve plexus, which communicates information on glucose and nutrient status to the brain but has been difficult to study as its nerve structures are too small to separately stimulate with implanted electrodes.”
The approach has been tested on diabetic mice but soon scientists plan to start human testing. Animals studies have also verified that just three minutes of focused ultrasound a day can keep blood glucose levels normal.
