Sep 15, 2008 5:59 pm US/Eastern
Gastric Bypass Could Help Cure Type 2 Diabetes
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Weight loss surgery has become a popular way for obese people to shed unwanted pounds. Now there may be another group of patients who could benefit.
Gastric bypass surgery accounts for about 80 percent of all weight loss surgery in the U.S.
It has been found not only to help patients trim down considerably, but in many cases has cured patients of their
type-two diabetes. Now doctors are wondering if more type-two diabetics should be allowed to have the surgery.
Mary Stanford is not the person she used to be. Four years ago, she weighed 300 pounds and suffered from type-two diabetes.
After undergoing gastric bypass surgery, Mary
lost 140 pounds and her diabetes disappeared almost immediately. "Definitely a relief," she said. "Your sugars are normal. You don't have to worry about testing everyday. You don't have to worry about remembering to take your medication."
"We now have sufficient evidence that gastric bypass cam improve diabetes dramatically," said Dr. Francesco Rubino, New York Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medical Center.
The surgery is so effective, that doctors at a diabetes conference are considering gastric bypass for a larger number of diabetics.
Right now, there is an obesity threshold. Someone who is 5 feet 8 inches has to be at least 230 pounds to get the surgery.
Dr. Rubino is about to begin a new study performing the surgery on patients about 30 pounds lighter. "We're going to compare surgery to conventional medical treatment to understand whether surgery might be preferable in this subset of patients."
Researchers say it's not just the
weight loss that rids the body of diabetes. Scientists believe the surgery may also spark hormonal changes in the body. "A large number of people with diabetes will see their diabetes drop off within days to a few weeks after the bypass – long before they've lost much weight," said endocrinologist David Cummings.
So experts believe it's possible the surgery could even benefit diabetics who are just overweight and not obese. "We have to be very cautious and do more studies before we offer surgery to everybody," said Dr. Rubino.
The outcome of those studies could give millions of people with type-two diabetes a new treatment option.
Read: The Bypass Effect On Diabetes, Cancer Read: Gastric Bypass Surgery: What Can You Expect?
Diabetes.org
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