EndoBarrier Versus Intragastric Balloon in Obese Diabetic Patients

Obese patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a 80-98% chance of having their disease cured or improved following bariatric surgery. This could be explained by weight loss or by changes of nutrient absorption or gut hormone secretion. The comparison of glucose metabolism in patients undergoing malabsorptive or mechanical procedures will clarify this matter. EndoBarrier is an endoscopically delivered device that mimics malabsorptive surgical procedures while the endoscopically placed intragastric balloon induces weight loss with a mechanical action. The present study hypothesis is that the bypass of the first portion of the intestine obtained with the EndoBarrier will be more effective in improving glucose metabolism than the reduction of food intake obtained with the intragastric balloon. Since similar weight loss is expected in the two groups, the study will aid in understanding the mechanisms behind the metabolic improvement seeing after intestine bypass.