Sound waves aimed at liver and nerves could tame diabetes
NCT ID NCT05354947
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early study tests whether delivering focused ultrasound pulses to the liver and a nearby nerve bundle can improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. Thirty adults on stable oral diabetes medications will receive the ultrasound treatment. The main goal is to check for side effects like liver enzyme changes, but researchers will also monitor blood sugar levels to see if the approach shows promise.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- focused pulsed ultrasound delivered via a GE LOGIQ E10 machine
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a non-drug, non-invasive way to help manage blood sugar in type 2 diabetes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small pilot study (30 people) focused on safety, not effectiveness. It may not show any meaningful blood sugar improvement, and there is a risk of liver enzyme elevation or low blood sugar.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Nov 2022
- Expected to finish
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May 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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21 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female subjects with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes ≥ 3 months. 2. Age ≥ 21 and ≤ 75 years. 3. Currently on a stable treatment regimen of oral anti-diabetic drugs and not currently prescribed for medication escalation. Oral anti-diabetic drugs are limited to one or more of the following: * Metformin * Sulfonylureas * Meglitinides * Thiazolidinediones 4. HbA1c \> 7.0% and \< 10% by local laboratory analysis. 5. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 18 to ≤ 40.0 kg/m2. 6. Considered generally healthy upon completion of medical history, physical examination and biochemical investigations as judged by the Principal Investigator. 7. Female subjects must be non-pregnant and non-lactating and have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and before the ultrasound session. 8. Ability to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. History or current diagnosis with T1DM or T2DM subjects on insulin, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP agonists. 2. A subject who is already indicated for medication escalation of their current diabetic therapy. 3. A subject who has manifestations of advanced complications from poorly controlled or longstanding diabetes such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy and cardiovascular complications including, but not limited to coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, or cerebrovascular disease such as transient ischemic attack \[TIA\], cerebral infarct, or cerebral hemorrhage. 4. History or current diagnosis of cardiac dysrhythmias or heart disease, defined as symptomatic heart failure (New York Heart Association class III or IV), myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring medication. 5. Invasive cardiovascular procedure, such as coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), or angioplasty/percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 6 months of screening. 6. History of recurrent severe hypoglycemia (more than 1 event ≤ 6 month) 7. Subjects with clinically active malignancy 8. History of renal disease or abnormal kidney function tests at Screening (glomerular filtration rate \[GFR\] \< 60 mL/min/1.73m2 as estimated using the MDRD equation). 9. History or active hepatic disease or clinically significant abnormal hepatic function tests at Screening suggestive of hepatic impairment (e.g., ALT and/or AST \>2 x ULN, GGT \>2 x ULN, total bilirubin \> 1 x ULN). 10. Subjects with a history or presence of any psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, might confound the results of the trial or pose additional risk in administering the investigational product to the subject. 11. Personal or family history of hypercoagulability or thromboembolic disease, including deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism (PE) 12. History of surgical treatment for obesity (bariatric surgery, gastric banding, etc.) or any other gastrointestinal surgery (including appendectomy, cholecystectomy), any malabsorption disorder, severe gastroparesis, any GI procedure for weight loss (including LAP-BAND®), as well as clinically significant gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. peptic ulcers, severe GERD) at Screening. 13. History of any major surgery within 3 months prior to screening. 14. Any nerve stimulation study or implanted stimulator, including previously or currently implanted vagus nerve stimulator, previously or currently implanted spinal cord stimulator, other implanted electronic medical device, such as implanted pacemaker or cardioverter/ defibrillator (AICD) or history of seizures. 15. Participation in an investigational study within 30 days prior to dosing or 5 half-lives within the last dose of the investigational product given during the investigational study, whichever is longer. 16. Current use of any drugs (other than current treatment for diabetes mellitus) that are known to interfere with glucose or insulin metabolism as stated below in table prohibited medication. 17. Thyroid hormone use is not allowed unless medication is given on a stable dose for at least 3 months prior to screening. 18. Subject is unable to tolerate adhesive tape or has any unresolved adverse skin reaction in the area of the glucose sensor placement. 19. Implanted pacemaker or cardioverter/defibrillator (AICD). 20. History of any active infection, incl. COVID19 (as ruled out by negative PCR test), except mild viral disease, such as common cold, within 30 days prior to screening. 21. Known history or positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C antibody (HCV Ab), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) or type 2 (HIV-2). 22. History of any recent traumatic injury, including intracerebral hemorrhage and visceral injury. 23. Donation or loss of \> 500 mL of blood or blood product within 2 months prior to screening. 24. Mental incapacity, unwillingness or language barriers precluding adequate understanding and to follow verbal commands during the ultrasound session or cooperation. 25. An abdominal ultrasound scan or exam within 1 month prior to screening and/or any pre-planned ultrasound examinations during the study, or the need to participate in any unplanned outside ultrasound procedures during study. 26. Use of the agents listed in Prohibited Medications Table below (prescription or nonprescription) is prohibited until completion of all study activities. 27. Identification of risk of hypoglycemia or severely uncontrolled diabetes in screening visit metabolic assessments (CGM, OGTT, and fasting blood draws)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Yale-New Haven Hospital
RECRUITINGNew Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States
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