Weight Loss Can Help You Reverse Prediabetes: Here's How

An estimated one in three Americans live with prediabetes, a condition that makes them more susceptible to Type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, many aren’t aware they have prediabetes and have no idea that weight loss can prevent it from worsening.

At OakBend Medical Group, our highly skilled bariatric surgeons Steven M. Thomas, MD, FACS, Genna Lubrano, MD, and Christopher Reilly, MD, FACS, provide comprehensive weight loss procedures for those with prediabetes due to obesity.

Our surgeons can determine which type of surgery you might need to reverse a prediabetes diagnosis and provide comprehensive after-care services to support your weight loss success.

How prediabetes develops

Prediabetes describes blood sugar levels that are elevated but aren’t high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes.

Your body uses the insulin hormone made by your pancreas to convert sugar from your diet into the energy you need to function. When your body doesn’t respond like it should to insulin, your pancreas keeps trying to make more of the hormone but ultimately isn’t able to get your cells to respond.

As a result, your blood sugar levels rise, and prediabetes occurs. Without proper management, your risk for Type 2 diabetes increases.

Many people have prediabetes for some time without knowing it because symptoms tend to develop only when high blood sugar levels damage your nerve or other tissues.

The effect of weight on prediabetes

Your weight contributes to prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes because the more fatty tissue you have, the more insulin-resistant your cells become. This is especially true if you have excess fat around your abdomen or a waist size larger than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men.

A diet of processed, sugary foods and red meats contributes to both weight challenges and prediabetes, especially if you overeat and live a sedentary lifestyle.

The natural aging process and underlying medical issues can make weight loss more difficult. You may also face challenges losing weight if you have a lot of weight to lose.

For these reasons, you may be a candidate for the weight loss surgeries we offer to support fatty tissue loss, which can reverse prediabetes and prevent Type 2 diabetes.

When to consider bariatric surgery

If you haven’t had your blood sugar levels checked recently, consider meeting with your family physician for blood work. They can also review your risk factors for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

In the event testing reveals that you have prediabetes, you can expect to start making lifestyle changes to regulate your blood sugar levels naturally. These changes will likely include eating more fresh foods, controlling your portions, and increasing your daily physical activity.

If you’re unable to lose weight successfully with these changes, you can meet with our surgeons to discuss your options for weight loss surgery. Our specialists offer several types of weight loss surgery that support safe, healthy weight loss, including:

Lap-Band® surgery

Lap-Band surgery uses a durable band to minimize the size of your stomach to prevent overeating.

Gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery alters your gastrointestinal tract, so the food you eat bypasses most of your stomach and small intestine. This limits how many calories your body can absorb.

Gastric sleeve surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery involves the removal of much of your stomach, leaving only a small sleeve-shaped portion in place. After the procedure, you’ll feel fuller longer after eating only small portions of food.

Gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery are often the most effective option for those with prediabetes or diabetes because the surgeries affect hormone levels in your gut and the metabolizing of glucose in your cells.

Call OakBend Medical Group in Richmond, Texas, to find out if bariatric surgery can reverse your prediabetes or book an appointment online today.