July 8, 2009
Should I Consider Gastric Bypass Surgery to Cure My Type 2 Diabetes?
I’m 36 and at my 7 year mark now after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and I’m considering getting gastric bypass surgery. There are studies that support gastric bypass weight loss surgery to stop the use of diabetes medications for type 2 diabetics. As I cut down on my daily intake of food I don’t see any big changes in my blood sugars or weight. I do exercise 2 or 3 times a week but obviously it’s not enough.
The exact cause of type 2 diabetes is still unknown. Many doctors subscribe to the “lipocentric hypothesis,” which pins the blame on extra pounds. Even if the body makes lots of insulin to process or store blood sugars, the theory goes, the extra weight overwhelms it. “The fat in your belly is very insulin-resistant,” says George Fielding, a bariatric surgeon at New York University. “So as that fat increases, the insulin in the body just isn’t strong enough to work against it, and the person gets diabetes.”
That explanation, however doesn’t work for everyone, because it fails to account for the 20 percent of type 2 diabetes patients who aren’t overweight. I can’t say I’m one of them but for what I eat and the amount I exercise now. I shouldn’t be this big and my blood sugars shouldn’t ever be above 200.
“They’re very active, and they eat properly,” says Paul Robertson, a prominent diabetes researcher in Seattle. As for what could be causing the illness in those cases, says Robertson, “we’re left scratching our heads.”
I’m just not at the point right now where I can put in a WHOLE LOT of time into this although it is my health.
When used as a last resort for weight management, certain gastric bypass procedures have been known to completely reverse, or at least mitigate, type 2 diabetes. Until recently, researchers had assumed that weight loss alone was somehow responsible for this benefit. However, new research in rodents and very preliminary work in humans suggest that hormonal and metabolic changes caused by the surgery must be responsible, not simple weight loss, said Karen Foster-Schubert, MD, acting instructor at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Something that seems very positive is that the medications for type 2 diabetes in 10 out of 11 obese adolescents treated with the procedure have stopped taking their meds all together.
I’d really like to hear from you and your thoughts on whether this is my solution or do I go on fighting diabetes the rest of my life.
Related Posts
- Type II Diabetes: Non Insulin-Dependent Diabetes
- Insulin Resistance And Complex Carbohydrates
- Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes – What Do I Do Now?
- Even A Small Weight Loss Benefits Type 2 Diabetes
- Diabetes and Fitness
Ken Savage
July 8, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Awesome
Suzanne
July 9, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Check out Jenny’s blog about weight loss surgery and t2. She looks at a recent study and picks apart the statistics. http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/2009/07/real-truth-about-gastric-bypasss.html
Glen King
July 9, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I underwent lapband surgery last may and have lost about 100 lbs since. There are some things you need to know and understand about weight loss surgery.
1. You will probably have to under an examination, psychological examination, and meet certain specific guidelines set by your insurance provider.
2. The various sorts of weight loss surgery are very different with different complications, risks and implications. Do the research!
3. Be prepared to undergo a supervised weight loss program of some sort before being qualified for surgery. This program varies from 3 months to an entire year depending on the insurance provider.
The above are common to all weight loss surgeries.
Pros and Cons:
Gastric bypass – you actually are removing part of your stomach from use. For a diabetic this implies problems with absorption and metabolism that may already be an issue.
Gastric Bypass is NOT reversible. There is no going back. You cannot grow another/more stomach tissue when you reach your goal weight. Should that part of the stomach that remains become stretched out like a balloon, there is no way to fix it.
Gastric Bypass is by far the most invasive weight surgery, involving a long and deep incision in the abdomen. This greatly increase the chance of infection as well as the recovery time.
Take a good hard look at lapband.
Lapband places a loop of surgical quality silcone band around the upper portion of the stomach. Salt water is used to expand a section of the band to give constriction. This reduces the amount of food you can take in. Because the fatty layers around your stomach also go away as you loose weight more salt water needs to be put in to keep the proper amount of restriction.
The pouch created in this manner fills quickly, the capacity is usually 2 ozs, about the size of a hen egg. Yes this is pretty extreme, but if you are really serious about loosing weight, it’s worth it.
Since Lapband involves placing the band thru a tube (laproscopy), it is much less invasive, costly and markedly safer. The surgery can generally be done as a day surgery and the patient can go home the same day. It was covered by my insurance almost 100% so check your insurance plan.
You end up with 4 or 5 punctures in the stomach area instead of a 6-8 inch long incision. A ‘port’ is put in under the skin and is not visible, this is where salt water is added or taken out of the band. This is also what makes the lapband such a good option. When you reach your goal, part of the salt water can be taken out, enabling you to eat a bit more. If you put the weight back on, it can be filled again and the process begun over even if it’s years later.
If you want real, honest answers about weight loss surgery of any sort, just do a google search. I found lots of information at http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forum.html
Some facts about my experience:
Starting weight 320 lbs
neck 22 in shirt 2xl-3xl
waist 48 in
chest 58 in
I had surgery on May 23, 2008
I went into the hospital at 10am and was home by 430pm the same day.
current weight 217 lbs
neck 17 in shirt L (you would not believe how many shirts I have had to get rid of)
waist 38 in
chest 48 in
I have actually lost weight in my feet and hands sufficient that I have had to decrease my shoe size by 1 size from 12 to 11. My glove size has gone from XL to medium.
I got most of my upper teeth pulled a few weeks before my surgery and the partial plate that was made no longer fits due to my weight loss.
I am a type 2 on insulin with still poor control of my bloodsugar(this mainly my own fault). Before surgery, I was taking 150 units per day of 70/30 humlin. I am now down to 35 units per day. I hope to be off insulin entirely in another year or so. I want to get down to about 190 lbs.
That’s pretty drastic in about 14 months since surgery, no matter who you are talking about. Does it take getting used to? Better believe it. Was it easy/effortless? No. I had to learn an entire new style of eating, including how to chew food correctly and portion correctly. These are not easy things to relearn and it will take an effort on your part.
You can see some progress pictures on my facebook page http://tiny.cc/GlenKingFacebook You have to be a member to see, but it’s free to register. Take a look and feel free to email with questions.
Glen
Edwin
July 12, 2009 at 6:10 pm
“When used as a last resort for weight management, certain gastric bypass procedures have been known to completely reverse, or at least mitigate, type 2 diabetes.” –
Have you tried drinking aloe vera gel? It can enhance your body’s metabolism, help your pancreas to function properly and regulate insulin secretions.
Aloe vera can control your blood sugar level.
Take a look at probiotic supplements, too.
Take for example, this friendly bacteria, Lactobacillus d. Bulgaricus, it feeds on sugars and convert them into lactic acid.
Bottom line? It’s your call.
Hope this helps.
efittery
July 31, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I was at UCLA Medical center doing the initial interview/paperwork
for getting a gastric bypass.
When I talked to the doctor it said:
Most people can go off there medications for high blood pressure and
diabetes the day after they have surgery.
I don”t believe he is trying to sell me on getting the operation. They
have so many people backed up waiting that I will have to wait about
6 to 8 months.
Just to make a point. Nobody looses much weight in two days and if they
did it would be on the order of 5 lbs.
Over the last 2 years, with the help of Byetta and having a operation to
remove my gal-bladder, I am down 85lbs. I am eating lots of veggies, I have stopped all soda, don’t drink milk and really really try to stay away from bread/pasta.
The only thing I am not doing is exercise. Yea, I know, “JUST DO IT”!
good luck to everybody.
efittery
July 31, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I heard about a procedure in which they by-pass the duodenum.
You do not seem to loose weight because of the procedure, but the article I read said that your diabetes improved dramatically within 3 months.
If interested look at this procedure, look at this video from CBS/60minutes:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/17/60minutes/main4023451_page2.shtml
Larraine
August 25, 2009 at 9:47 am
Today, August 25, 2009, I had my nine month appointment with my bariatric surgeon. I had the full Roux-En-Y surgery and am glad I did it. I have lost 95 lbs., my blood sugar is normal, and I feel great. On July 9th I had double knee replacement surgery and am in the midst of my physical therapy. I’m walking around the house without my cane and can walk short distances on hard surfaces without it. I think bariatric surgery is one of the best “gifts” you can give to yourself. Lap Band is an option, but people don’t lose as much weight as they do with Roux-en-Y. Yes, it is invasive. However, the person who said that there is a large incision is wrong. I had mine done laproscopically. (Hope I spelled that right!) So NO big incisions. Infection is more of a problem with the morbidly obese which I was not. Coincidentally, my surgeon and I were talking about the diabetes reversal issue. He said that people who had diabetes for 7 yrs or more generally did not have a full reversal. However two of my family members had the surgery and they have to take much less medication. Anytime you can take less medicine, you are better off. Keep in mind that the surgery is a TOOL to help you control your eating. That’s all. It has worked for me. I feel better than I have in years. I wasn’t diabetic before, but my knees hurt so badly I was afraid I was going to be in a wheelchair. The pain lessened as I lose weight. I had to lose weight before I was able to have the knee surgery. In the end it’s up to you, but I HIGHLY recommend it.
Ken
September 2, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I’m getting the gastric bypass surgery next month.