Gastric Bypass 'cures' diabetes in patients

[Pamster]

Check this out:

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/1/23/319146.html?title=Study:+Obesity+surgery+can+cure+ diabetes

The news here says that Gastric bypasses have cured diabetes in patients. I think that is great! Anyone here have a bypass or the gastric binding (mini-bypass) done and seen great results like this article talks about? :)

[tic chick]

well...

the article is kind of vague in that it does not come right out and say, it's the WEIGHT LOSS that cures the diabetes, but says it's the surgery.

of course, with the gastric bypass, which is a permanent surgical procedure, you will lose a certain amount of weight, although some people do gain some weight back.

the stomach banding surgery is reversible, though. you can lose weight and then have the band removed. if you gain the weight back that you lost, i would assume your diabetes would come back, also. they don't mention any studies that show this.

some of the non-surgical group also reached the goal of eliminating their diabetes. this was probably because they lost weight on their own through diet and exercise.

i think a lot of people are having the surgery because it is easier than a lifetime of watching what you eat and exercising regularly. i have heard of people who were addicted to food move on to other addictions after surgery. i personally know a person that didn't receive any follow-up counseling or after-care after the surgery and went on to abuse alcohol, the same way she abused food.

candidates should be screened carefully for this procedure and after-care should be mandatory. right now, this is not the case. before you have such a drastic surgery, you should really, seriously lose weight the right way. that means lifetime vigilance of portion control, eating wholesome foods and exercising daily.

just my opinion,
jeannie

[houghchrst]

I am sure that I would probably be a candidate for this but I know that I have addiction issues and food has become my drug of choice. This would do me no good. I may lose weight but I am still me and may find myself back where I was or seriously hurting myself by trying to eat more than I could.

[Big Joe]

I had the gastric bypass on December 19, 2007 (less than a year ago). In nine months I lost 160 pounds. I have had NO complications and have been extremely pleased with the process and the results. My weight became a serious issue after a spinal issue that left me disabled. Between the limited activity (spent years in a wheelchair) and the medications I put on a tremendous amount of weight. I was not able to lose enough through normal means, and at my age (59) there were not enough years to get where I needed to get naturally.

I worked with my physician and medical team to be certain this was the right procedure for me. It was not an easy process to get approved by my insurance company, but it did make certain I was a viable candidate and determined to achieve my goals. It certainly is not an "easy way out" or an easy process. Once approved, my surgical team did a wonderful job. The pre surgical counseling and support helped prepare me for what I would face and how I should live after the surgery. The team was wonderful after surgery and provided the needed support, direction, and care. I worked very hard to ensure I worked the program properly. For me it has been a wonderful thing.

Now the better news. Not only have I lost 160 pounds, but after 25 years of taking insulin injections 2-4 times a day I was told by my physician several months ago I am no longer a diabetic. I take no medication or treatment for it and my blood sugars are normal. I have no issues with blood pressure or cholesterol. All the co-morbidities I faced pre surgery have been resolved.

I realize very well that this is a process that will change me for the remainder of my life. That is what I wanted to see happen. Now when we eat out (which is often) my wife and I share a single meal and we are both more than full. Often there are leftovers. Our grocery budget is substantially smaller than it was before and we are far more conscious of what we eat.

I have had no issues with any food, but if I eat something that is very sweet it can make me a bit uncomfortable for a little while after. I try to avoid anything sweet, but sometimes it gets snuck in on you. I eat my protein to ensure I have a sufficient amount, take my vitamins and supplements (not that many) daily and work very hard to ensure I remain healthy.

I am treated much differently by nearly everyone as a thin person. I get preferential treatment at resteraunts and other places where personal service is needed. It is discrimination, but not intentional. Many of my friends do not recognize me if they have not seen me in a while. Even my kids will not realize I am in the room for a few minutes. It gives me lots of anonymity. That can be enjoyable at times and certainly can be fun to mess with my friends who do not realize it is me.

I lost over 2 feet around the waist. 61/2 inches around the neck. The list goes one. I have some excess skin, but not very bad. There have been so many earmarks that have helped drive me where I am that it still amazes me.

I will repeat again that this has been a lifesaver for me. I don't think I would say it is for everyone, but it certainly was right for me. If you consider this, and if you have a BMI over 40 you certainly should consider and investigate this, make sure you know what you are getting into. There are issues that one must address. You can defeat the surgery easily if you don't follow the program. Remember the surgery is ONLY a tool and if not used properly it does not do what you hope.

Also, remember the surgery is not a solution for the phycological problems you may have. Those will need to be dealt with in spite of surgery. Surgery is a tool to help you loose weight, but it is not a solution to your mental problems. It is imperative to deal with those but the surgery will not remove those issues for you.

I would add that being thin is important for your health, but many obese people have been very heavy a good part of their life. When they look in the mirror they see a fat person. Just because you lose weight does not mean you can alter the view you have of yourself. This is part of the mental process that must be altered as well as the physical. The process of becoming the person you think you want to be is only partially addressed by weight loss. It requires lots of mental reconditioning to get all your systems in sync with the weight loss. The surgery will only address the physical and give you a tool to achieve the physical goal of losing weight. Make sure you have a team that you work with to give you the correct support and education to help you overcome your past and find a new and exciting future. It can be a great experience for those who are prepared and ready to have a new life and willing to leave the old behind. For those who are not willing to leave the old behind or do not have the team and support to make this a life altering experience for them, they may be best advised to wait.

Again, this surgery can save your life. It will alter your life for a good period of time. It will not change the you that is inside unless you are willing to change and get the help. Good luck and do not hesitate to investigate this procedure. It may or may not be right for you, but unless you consider it with an open mind you will never know.

[sara518]

I didnt read the article sorry. But I have been type 2 diabetic for over 20 yrs. I am 36 yrs old. After pretty much ignoring the disease I have suffered a lot. I lost 3 toes and have gone blind in my left eye due to Diabetic related problems. I have been on every diet out there. I have lost 50 to 60 lbs only to gain it back. My diabetes never went away any of the times I lost weight. No matter how much it was.

I had Gastric Bypass on Jan 15th 2009 so just over 2 weeks ago. I was taking 1500 mg of Metformin a day and 40 units of lantus a night. Since surgery my blood sugars have about stabled out. I still have to take 10 units of lantus at night. But it is amazing that for the first time in my life my blood sugars are just about normal every time I test.

In MY opinion it is not just the weigh loss that helps with the Diabetes after this surgery because I have not lost a ton of weight yet but it is the fact that they re route your intestines so food does not digest like it did before. I have not eaten much food as of yet. My stomach will only tolerate clear liquids right now. If I even try Rice cereal I get the dumping syndrome.

I would say that this surgery is only a tool. If you abuse it you will gain weight back and yes probably kick the Diabetes back into gear. Type 2 Diabetes is a lifestyle disease. So if you are overweight, sedendary and don't watch what goes in your body the surgery may not help over time. When the Dr operates on your stomach they do not fix the reason you were heavy in the first place. Believe me I thought that I knew every thing about this surgery and what I was getting into. Im finding day by day that I don't and it is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but know the rewards are going to be great. I already had a wow moment one week after surgery where someone said they didn't recognize me and I looked like I was cut in half. LOL all that after only a 10lb loss.

Anyways this is just MY 2 cents.

Sara

[tic chick]

sara *bunch,

i hope you have recuperated and are feeling pretty much back to normal.

yeah, i think it is a puzzle why some people with type 2 diabetes have their disease reverse when they lose weight and/or have a gastric bypass and some don't. i agree that the re-routing of the intestines that prevents absorption of calories and such from food is one of the reasons.

i talked to my doctor about having a gastric bypass. unfortunately, he was totally against it and i had none of the problems that insurers look for to pay for a gastric bypass; no high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, etc. in fact, he told me about a patient he knew that lost 200 pounds with their gastric bypass, had their diabete's go away, gained back 100 pounds and still have the diabete's stay away.

i think if you have any history of diabete's in your family, you might get diabete's whether you are overweight or not.

sara, i hope this surgery keeps your blood sugar levels stable and that you do not experience any more life-altering complications from your diabetes.

thank you for sharing,
jeannie

[Buttons2]

I didn't read the link,however I want to thank those that have shared their stories. this is interesting,I was always told once a diabetic always a diabetic.

I'm the only person I know that was diagnosed type 2 with no weight issues (at the time). I was in great shape,however diabetes does run in my family.

Nowadays I'm not doing so great,have gained more weight than I ever thought possible! I plan to try the Metforim again,probably didn't give it enough time before. (I hate taking meds).

Kudos to those of you that had the surgery & are determined to lose the weight & keep it off!

[cas07]

i had weight loss surgery 8 years ago. in 13 months i lost 200 pounds and have kept it all off. i did not have gastric bypass, i had a gastric reduction/duodenal switch which is quite a bit different from the bypass. i didn't have diabetes but a number of my friends did and after having the gr-ds are no longer considered diabetic. apparently the ds part of the surgery has been done in europe for a number of years as a cure for diabetes.

big joe, much of what you said was my experience. it has certainly changed my life, my outlook on life and how others perceive me. it took a very long time for me to be able to look in the mirror and see me as a thin person, and most days i still think i am heavy.

one of the best decisions i ever made regarding my life.

*******************
cassie

[mrhealthie]

yah how come gastric bypass can cure diabetes... i agree with other its the weight loss or the cut in carbs/sugar is the one who cure diabetes not the operation itself...