Treatments for Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity

Abstract

Methods of treatment in subjects suffering from diabetes mellitus or obesity are provided. The methods comprise ablation of a region of the small intestine in the subject, in particular ablation of a region of the duodenum. The ablation may be a mechanical, electrical, thermal, radiative, or chemical ablation and may in some cases target a sensory nerve. The methods may, in some cases, comprise the step of administering an active agent directly to the small intestine in the subject, in particular administering the active agent directly to the duodenum. The active agents useful in the treatments described herein include analgesic agents and, in particular, antinociceptive agents such as capsaicin, resiniferatoxin, and their analogues.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of treatment comprising:
 radiatively ablating the duodenum in a subject in a targeted manner, wherein the subject suffers from diabetes mellitus or obesity.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the radiatively ablating the duodenum in the subject comprises radiatively ablating a sensory nerve of the duodenum. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the radiatively ablating the duodenum comprises radiatively ablating the duodenum with laser, ultrasound, radiofrequency, microwave, or thermal ablation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the radiatively ablating the duodenum comprises radiatively ablating the duodenum with radiofrequency. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the radiatively ablating the duodenum comprises radiatively ablating the duodenum with pulsed radiofrequency ablation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the radiatively ablating the duodenum comprises radiatively ablating the duodenum on the serosal surface of the duodenum. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising first surgically exposing the small intestine of the subject. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject suffers from diabetes mellitus. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject suffers from type 2 diabetes mellitus. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject suffers from obesity. 
     
     
         12 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 11 , further comprising:
 measuring oral glucose tolerance of the subject.   
     
     
         13 . The method of any one of  claims 2 - 11 , further comprising:
 measuring body weight change in the subject.