Bariatric Surgery: An Effective Way to Alleviate the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is one of the leading diseases affecting today’s generation, both young and old, all over the world. Many studies have been conducted to search for ways to ease the symptoms. There are conventional ways, such as daily medications and blood glucose monitoring, to name a few, but these work to keep the blood sugar under control. Another method is undergoing Bariatric Surgery, which was recently reported to be the most effective way to alleviate the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes in obese or overweight patients.

There are two procedures for Bariatric Surgery:

1.       Removing a portion of the stomach or reducing its size using a gastric band. Also known as biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, which is when the stomach is changed in shape and location to direct the food mostly on the lower intestine so that nutrients and calories can be absorbed thoroughly.

2.       Gastric Bypass Surgery or changing the route of the small intestine to a small pouch in the stomach.

A recent clinical study was performed, nicknamed STAMPEDE (Surgical Treatment and Medications Potentially Eradicate Diabetes Efficiently), where a group of patients with Type 2 Diabetes who were obese or overweight signed up for a trial method to determine the most effective way to alleviate Type 2 Diabetes symptoms. These 150 patients were randomly selected in the overweight and obese category and were divided into three groups.

The first group was instructed to adhere to the conventional way of managing medications and monitoring glucose every day. The second group underwent the Roux-en-Y Bypass Surgery, or Gastric Bypass surgery. The third group underwent sleeve gastrectomy where 80% of their stomach was closed. All three groups underwent lifestyle counseling and had thorough medical attention.

Three years later, the patients were examined and those who underwent surgery showed astounding results.

·         The group of patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy lost an average of 47 pounds and 33% of these patients were able to discontinue taking medications for diabetes.

·         Patients who went through Roux-en-Y Bypass Surgery lost almost 58 pounds and 58% of them stopped taking medications.

·         The group who adhered to the conventional mode showed little to no changes.

The changes seen in patients who underwent surgery were remarkable. They lost weight, their kidneys functioned better and their lives improved as a whole.

The only foreseeable constraint is the expensive price of the bariatric surgery procedure which prompted dubiety among some insurance companies. This uncertainty was challenged by researchers who reported the strong possibility of an increasing number of obese or overweight patients with Type 2 Diabetes in the near future, which hastens the call for earlier consideration of bariatric surgery in these types of patients.