Experimental diabetes device works by killing gut cells with hot water

A bizarre diabetes treatment seems to destroy cells lining the gut to change people's hormonal response to food.

The technique involves putting a tube down someone's throat and into the first part of their small intestine, called the duodenum, while they are sedated. Known as Revita, the procedure uses water heated to 75°C to kill the outermost layer of cells.

People with type 2 diabetes, which is linked with being overweight, often have overgrowth of the cells lining the duodenum. This may result from years of unhealthy eating, ...