DIABETICS in Southampton could soon be shedding pounds and their medication without the trauma of surgery.

A revolutionary new treatment is being trialled at Southampton General Hospital that could transform the lives of those suffering from type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Early trials of the EndoBarrier have amazed health experts by causing patients to lose half of their excess weight and improving their diabetes, with some sufferers even going into remission.

Now Southampton General Hospital is one of three centres in the UK to trial the breakthrough non-surgical procedure and is looking for volunteers to be one of the first in the country to benefit from the new device.

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The EndoBarrier is a small plastic sleeve, which is inserted beyond the end of the stomach, at the start of the small intestine, via the mouth. The device is left there, creating a barrier between food and the wall of the intestine, so that food cannot be absorbed, reducing the intake of calories.

This gives the body less time to digest food and reduces blood sugar levels, resulting in significant weight loss and reducing the need for patients to continue with their medication to control diabetes. Clinical trials on 300 people in Chile revealed that patients fitted with the device lost an average of 3.5 stone and a significant proportion were able to get off their diabetic medication, in just 12 months.

A major advantage is that the device can be implanted without surgery and a patient can come in, have the hour-long procedure, go home the same day and even be back at work the next day.

Leading the trial at Southampton General Hospital is bariatric surgeon Jamie Kelly, who is looking for 15 volunteers, who suffer from type 2 diabetes, has a body mass index over 30 and is on medication. He said: “It will be of huge benefit to those with diabetes who could see their condition go into remission and no longer need to take their medication.

And once the device is removed evidence suggests patients do not really regain the weight. So it will not only save the NHS money because diabetics will suffer fewer complications, it will also save money because some patients will no longer need their medication.”

• If you wish to take part in the trial, call 0800 096 2418 for free. Please do not call the hospital.

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