Plastic sheath to reverse diabetes

The Endobarrier is a 2ft (60cm) hollow plastic sheath fixed to the top of the small intestine using an endoscope, a flexible tube inserted via the mouth while the patient is under sedation. It simulates a feeling of fullness, meaning patients crave less food. Results from a trial at City Hospital, Birmingham, found patients lost an average of 2st in a year and kept their blood sugar levels under control – with some able to come off insulin altogether. Unlike a £15,000 gastric bypass, the Endobarrier costs only around £4,800 per patient and is being made available at 10 NHS hospitals.