Weight Loss Surgery Offers Long-Term Help for Type 2 Diabetes

Two types of weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, may help reverse Type 2 Diabetes in morbidly obese diabetics. One study showed that gastric bypass surgery and gastric banding surgery both resulted in the reversal of Type 2 Diabetes for a large percentage of patients.

Gastric Bypass Study

During gastric bypass surgery, the stomach is reduced in size and is attached to the second part of the small intestine. Making the stomach smaller means you feel full more quickly and don't eat as much. Bypassing the first part of the small intestine results in fewer calories being absorbed.

The study included 177 patients in three groups of obese diabetics: those who controlled their Diabetes by diet alone, those who took oral medications to control their Diabetes and those who managed their Diabetes with insulin.

Within a year, nearly 90 percent of patients who had the surgery experienced complete resolution of their Diabetes. Of those, 57 percent remained Diabetes-free more than eight years after gastric bypass surgery. Outcomes by group were as follows:

• Diet-controlled: 97% were Diabetes-free at some point and 24% developed a recurrence
• Oral medications: 92% experienced resolution of their Diabetes and it came back in 34%
• Insulin-dependent: 80% had resolution of the disease but 72% developed Diabetes again

Those who maintained their weight loss were more likely to remain free of Diabetes. However, patients who were insulin dependent were 10 times more likely to have a recurrence of Diabetes than those who controlled their Diabetes by diet.

Also, those who had been diabetic for a longer period of time were at increased risk of developing Diabetes again. Therefore, the earlier a Diabetes patient has gastric bypass surgery, the more likely the chance for long-term remission.

Gastric Banding Study

During gastric banding surgery, an adjustable silicone band filled with saline is wrapped around the upper part of the stomach. This creates a small pouch that can hold only about one ounce of food, which causes patients to eat less because they feel full quickly.

This study included 95 obese patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Following gastric banding, 40% of patients were Diabetes-free five years after surgery, while an additional 43 percent experienced improved control of Diabetes. Their average Body Mass Index (BMI) decreased from 46 to 35, and their average fasting blood sugar level decreased to nearly normal. Results of the study indicated that those who lost more weight were more likely to experience remission of Diabetes.

A Reasonable Alternative

Obesity is a major risk factor for Diabetes, and excess fat can cause the body's normal response to insulin to go haywire. If diet and exercise have failed to control your Diabetes, your doctor might consider bariatric surgery - either gastric bypass or gastric banding - to be a reasonable alternative. However, weight loss surgery is not an excuse to continue bad habits. You still need to learn how to eat properly and exercise regularly to keep the weight off.