G-POEM for Glycemic Control in Diabetic Gastroparesis (DIAPOEM)

Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Evaluating the Effect of Endoscopic Pyloromyotomy Via Gastric POEM on Glycemic Control in Patients With Diabetes and Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis, commonly caused by diabetes, affects 30-50% of diabetic individuals and complicates glycemic control due to its bidirectional relationship with blood glucose levels. Current treatments are often ineffective. G-POEM, a minimally invasive endoscopic technique, has demonstrated promising results in improving digestive symptoms, particularly in diabetic patients, with over 80% success. However, its impact on glycemic control has not yet been investigated, highlighting the need for further research.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Gastroparesis
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Immediate G-POEM; Procedure: Delayed G-POEM

Detailed Description

Gastroparesis is a condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying, resulting in various digestive symptoms. Diabetes is the leading global cause of gastroparesis. This complication affects approximately 30-50% of individuals with diabetes, typically appearing after many years of disease progression and frequently in the presence of other vascular complications. It is associated with autonomic neuropathy and hyperglycemia.

The bidirectional relationship between gastric emptying and blood glucose levels contributes to the complexity of diabetes management, increasing the risk of both postprandial hypoglycemia and delayed hyperglycemia. Existing treatments, including prokinetic and antiemetic medications, are often poorly tolerated and of limited efficacy.

G-POEM (Gastric Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy) is an endoscopic technique designed to treat refractory gastroparesis by targeting pyloric muscle hypertonicity. This procedure has demonstrated favorable outcomes in approximately two-thirds of cases and presents a favorable safety profile. The diabetic population appears to benefit most from this intervention, with over 80% reporting symptom improvement. To date, no study has evaluated the impact of G-POEM on glycemic parameters in patients with diabetic gastroparesis. This clinical trial aims to address this knowledge gap.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18 to 90 years;
• Diagnosed with diabetes for at least 5 years and be treated with optimized insulin therapy;
• Severe gastroparesis with gastric retention >20% at 4h (confirmed by scintigraphy);
• Failure of conventional gastroparesis treatment;
• Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in use or willingness to use during study
• Time in range (70-180 mg/dL) <70%

Exclusion Criteria:

• Are treated with an automated insulin therapy system (closed-loop);
• Have previously undergone gastric neurostimulation therapy with Enterra (Medtronic ©);
• Have been treated with erythromycin in the past three months;
• Do not provide informed consent;
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding during the study period;
• Are under legal guardianship;
• Have contraindications to the POEM procedure, including contraindications to anesthesia and/or active anticoagulation that cannot be paused;
• Have severe chronic constipation, defined by a Cleveland score >15 (Agachan et al., Dis Colon Rectum, 1996);
• Have a history of esophagogastric surgery (excluding anti-reflux surgery), including esophagogastric resection or any type of bariatric surgery;
• Have chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction;
• Have a clinical suspicion of chronic mesenteric ischemia, indicated by severe malnutrition, postprandial pain, and signs of digestive atherosclerosis;
• Refuse to share CGM data via the Libre Link platform;
• Plan or undergo changes in antidiabetic therapy or insulin delivery systems during the study period;
• Are being treated with any gastric-emptying delaying agents, including GLP-1 receptor agonists;
• Are undergoing treatment with ascorbic acid during the study;
• Have not previously attempted therapy with at least one prokinetic drug;
• Are actively treated with opioids;
• Have had prior pyloromyotomy or pyloroplasty;
• Have known eosinophilic gastroenteritis;
• Have an organic obstruction of the pylorus or intestinal tract (e.g., fibrotic stenosis);
• Have a severe coagulopathy;
• Have esophageal or gastric varices and/or portal hypertension gastropathy;
• Have decompensated liver cirrhosis (Child B or Child C);
• Have an active gastroduodenal ulcer;
• Have active cancer or precancerous conditions of the stomach or duodenum (dysplasia, gastric cancer, GIST).
• Have a known medical condition that, in the investigator's opinion, could interfere with the study protocol;
• Have experienced diabetic ketoacidosis requiring hospitalization within six months prior to enrollment;
• Have had a severe hypoglycemic episode requiring hospitalization within six months prior to enrollment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group: Immediate G-POEM	Procedure: Immediate G-POEM; Gastric POEM (G-POEM) performed under general anesthesia. A submucosal tunnel will be created along the greater curvature of the stomach to access the pyloric muscle under endoscopic vision. The pylorus will be incised at two locations with a dual myotomy between the 5 and 8 o'clock positions on the clock face
Active Comparator: Delayed G-POEM : Standard Treatment Followed by G-POEM at 3 Months	Procedure: Delayed G-POEM; Participants will receive standard medical treatment, including prokinetic agents, antiemetics (ondansetron 8 mg twice daily), nutritional support, and dietary counseling. Laxative treatments will be prescribed as needed. After three months, participants will undergo G-POEM as described above

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of time spent in target glycemic range >10%	Proportion of time in the glycemic range 70-180 mg/dL calculated from CGM data over 14 days preceding the 3-month time point	3 months after randomization

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HbA1c Level	Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level measured in blood samples	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months after randomization
Time in Hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL)	Percentage of time spent with glucose values below 70 mg/dL, based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months after randomization
Time in Hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dL)	Percentage of time spent with glucose values below 54 mg/dL, based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months after randomization
Time in Hyperglycemia (>180 mg/dL)	Percentage of time spent with glucose values above 180 mg/dL, based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months after randomization
Time in Hyperglycemia (>250 mg/dL)	Percentage of time spent with glucose values above 250 mg/dL, based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months after randomization
Mean Glucose Level (mg/dL)	Mean glucose level recorded by CGM over the specified time period.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months after randomization
Coefficient of Variation (CV) of Glucose (%)	Coefficient of variation of glucose levels measured by CGM.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months after randomization
Gastric Emptying Assessment	Evaluation of gastric motility via scintigraphy to measure gastric retention at 1h, 2h, and 4h post-standardized meal, performed at each follow-up time point (15 days, 3 months, and 6 months).	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months
Fundic Accommodation Ratio	Calculation of fundic accommodation using the ratio of T0 proximal activity to T0 total activity as per Orthey et al.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months
Gastroparesis Symptom Severity (GCSI Score)	Gastroparesis symptoms assessed with the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI), a validated questionnaire with a scale ranging from 0 to 5, where higher scores indicate more severe symptoms.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months
Severity of Upper GI Symptoms (PAGI-SYM Score)	Patient-reported outcome measuring severity of upper GI symptoms using the PAGI-SYM questionnaire, a validated questionnaire with a scale from 0 to 5, where higher scores represent worse symptom severity.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months
Gastrointestinal Quality of Life (GIQLI Score)	Quality of life related to gastrointestinal symptoms using the validated French version of the GIQLI scale.The total score ranges from 0 to 144, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months
Postprandial abdominal pain (VAS)	Intensity of postprandial abdominal pain assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).	15 days, 3 months, and 6 months
Safety and Adverse Events	Number of participants experiencing serious or unexpected adverse events throughout the follow-up.	From inclusion to the end of the 6-month follow-up, over a total study duration of 36 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: French Society of Digestive Endoscopy

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): May 11, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 11, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Gastroparesis; diabetic gastroparesis; G-POEM (Gastric Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy)
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Stomach Diseases; Paralysis; Gastroparesis
• Other Study ID Numbers: SFED-166

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No