Our Surgical and Nonsurgical Weight Loss Procedures Can Effectively Treat Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. It can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems if it's not controlled.
Type 2 diabetes is a very common condition, affecting 10% of adults in New York State alone. It has a significant impact in cardiovascular health, kidney function, vision, and the nervous system.
Adults with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease or stroke as people without diabetes.
The good news is that people who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes can lower their risk by more than half if they make healthy changes. These changes include eating healthy, increasing physical activity, and losing weight.
Recently, numerous studies comparing weight loss surgery to intensive medical therapy have consistently shown three to six times higher chance for glucose control, and up to 90% chance for "remission."
Obesity is often associated with diabetes. More than one-third of U.S. adults have obesity, and the number keeps increasing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here, Aurora D. Pryor, MD, professor of surgery and director of the Stony Brook Bariatric and Metabolic Weight Loss Center, answers questions about diabetes and obesity and their treatment with bariatric (weight loss) surgery plus nonsurgical procedures.
Q: What is type 2 diabetes, and what is its relationship to obesity?
A: Type 2 diabetes is a long-term disorder where the body produces insulin but resists its ability to move blood sugar into the cells to be used as energy. Untreated diabetes can be life threatening.
The relationship between type 2 diabetes and obesity is very clear: Obesity is probably the number one factor in the development of insulin resistance. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with the degree of obesity and its duration. So as our nation's rate of obesity increases, so does the rate of type 2 diabetes.
We offer a comprehensive, individualized treatment strategy, which may include surgery, medical management, diet and exercise, behavior modification, and psychological counseling, or a combination of these approaches.
Q: How is type 2 diabetes affected by bariatric surgery?
A: The results are nothing short of amazing. The majority of patients who have gastric bypass or duodenal switch surgery experience complete resolution of their diabetes.
Results also have been good for gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy. Patients who have bariatric surgery typically experience lower insulin resistance, and their risk for metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol also decreases.
Q: Are there large-scale studies showing that bariatric surgery helps type 2 diabetes?
A: Yes. One of the most well-known studies, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at 136 scientific reports totaling bariatric surgical results of 22,094 patients (see summary). It showed that nearly 77% of bariatric surgery patients were cured of diabetes, with a total of 86% reporting an improvement in their symptoms.
Q: How does bariatric surgery work?
A: Bariatric surgery makes the stomach smaller so the patient feels satisfied with less food. Many procedures also reduce the body's ability to absorb calories from food. All bariatric surgery works best with lifestyle and behavior changes.
Q: Who is a candidate for bariatric surgery?
A: We follow National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.
Most surgical patients are about 100 pounds or more overweight, but those who are less overweight and have a related medical condition may qualify for adjustable gastric banding.
Patients who are between 30 and 50 pounds overweight may qualify for our nonsurgical balloon treatment program. Our program in nonsurgical endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is another possible option for patients who want to avoid surgery.
Bariatric (weight loss) surgery, formerly used only for treating obesity, may provide an effective cure for type 2 diabetes not only in obese patients but also in normal weight or moderately overweight people.
Q: What's exceptional about Stony Brook's approach?
A: First, we have an extraordinary interdisciplinary team of professionals. We work side by side with each patient, every step of the way.
We offer a comprehensive, individualized treatment strategy, which may include surgery, medical management, diet and exercise, behavior modification, and psychological counseling, or a combination of these approaches. We offer a pre-surgery medically supervised weight loss program and monthly support group meetings after surgery.
We have a lifelong commitment to our patients. We meet with them regularly during the first year post-surgery, then annually or as needed for the rest of their lives.
We provide advanced procedures with advanced techniques. Most bariatric surgeries are performed laparoscopically, which means minimal scarring and faster recovery. We offer sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, and duodenal switch (read more).
What's more, we have access to Stony Brook Medicine. We can tap into the broad range of expertise, services, technology, and facilities available at Long Island's only academic medical center and Suffolk County's only tertiary care hospital.
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term metabolic disorder where the body produces insulin, but resists it. Insulin is necessary for the body to utilize sugar. Studies have shown that the majority of patients who have gastric bypass surgery experience complete resolution of their diabetes. Results also have been good for gastric banding. In addition, patients who had bariatric surgery experienced lower insulin resistance, and their risk for metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol also decreased.
Weight-loss surgery quickly improves blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes, and should be recommended or considered as a treatment for certain obese people with diabetes, according to a joint statement endorsed by 45 international professional organizations, which was published in the journal Diabetes Care (summary). These guidelines, based on the results of multiple clinical studies, are the first guidelines recommending surgery as a treatment option specifically for diabetes.
Learn more about obesity and diabetes and different treatment options from the Obesity Action Coalition. Learn more about weight loss treatments at the Stony Brook Bariatric and Metabolic Weight Loss Center.