SIR 2026 Abstract of the Year: Endovascular Denervation for Type 2 DM

This episode highlights the MILESTONE study, a ground-breaking first-in-human trial presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) 2026 Annual Meeting. The research explores a novel endovascular approach to "rewiring" the body's metabolic control center to treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).A Safe Metabolic Rewire: Using a novel six-electrode catheter system, researchers performed endovascular denervation of the celiac artery and nearby aorta. The study achieved a 100% technical success rate with zero severe treatment-related adverse events, proving the safety of targeting the splanchnic sympathetic nerves.Dramatic Glycemic Control: The six-month data showed a significant metabolic shift, with average HbA1c levels dropping from 9.9% to 8.0%. Additionally, fasting plasma glucose and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) plummeted, marking a major clinical improvement without lifestyle changes.Reduced Insulin Dependency: Patients saw objective improvements in liver and beta-cell function. Most notably, daily insulin requirements were reduced from an average of 24 units down to 19 units, suggesting a future where IR interventions could minimize or replace heavy pharmacological regimens.The New Frontier: This Abstract of the Year signals the potential for Interventional Radiology to move beyond traditional vascular work and into the primary management of chronic metabolic diseases.Tune in to learn how interventional radiology is positioning itself at the center of the diabetes care team.