Diabetes

How does weight loss surgery help people with diabetes?

One of the risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes is being overweight. In fact, doctors believe around 90% of cases are caused by excess body fat. People who lose weight reduce the risks of serious health complications associated with diabetes, such as:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• Blindness
• Kidney failure
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Amputations
• Impotency
• Depression
• Cognitive decline
  

However, losing weight can be a challenge for many people, who despite trying their best to shed excess pounds, remain overweight. Weight loss surgery helps people with Type 2 diabetes by limiting post-operative calorie intake.

What is involved in weight loss surgery procedures?

At OakBend Medical Group, Christopher Reilly, MD, FACS, Steven M. Thomas, MD, FACS, and Genna Lubrano, MD uses several forms of weight loss surgery for patients with diabetes, some of which are reversible or minimally invasive. He talks you through each option at your consultation, and you settle on which procedure best suits your needs.

A gastric sleeve operation removes a significant part of your stomach, leaving much less room for food. Following surgery, you eat smaller portion sizes and your appetite is reduced, leading to weight loss.

Gastric bypass surgery takes a different approach, altering the gastrointestinal tract so that food bypasses most of the stomach and upper small intestine.

Lap-Band® surgery involves our docotor placing a specially designed band around the top section of your stomach, limiting your food intake.

Gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery are particularly effective for people with diabetes, as the procedures affect glucose metabolism and hormone levels in the gut.

Is weight loss surgery a cure for type 2 diabetes?

Following surgery, most patients see an improvement in their diabetes, and in many cases the operations can halt or reverse the condition, often freeing people from their diabetes. It is critical to the success of the process that you make positive changes to your lifestyle in addition to undergoing the operation.

You’re more likely to reach optimum weight loss if you’re committed to the lifestyle changes that complement the surgery, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet and taking control of calorie intake. To find out how weight loss surgery could help with your diabetes, call OakBend Medical Group today, or book an appointment online.