Question:
Do most Type II Diabetics lose their Diabetes after WLS surgery?
— Sara H. (posted on January 6, 2004)
January 6, 2004
My surgeon says the overall rate is around 80% to 90%. When someone is
diabetic over 10 years that number drops. But most are dramatically
improved if not off all meds including insulin. Most arent diabetic after
surgery, the NIH list the RNY as a suggested treament for diabetes.
Yesterday on the news they said that if the increase in diabetes cointinues
in 50 yers 1/2 of the US will be diabetic:(
— bob-haller
January 6, 2004
I can't speak for everyone, but my diabetes was gone within two weeks of my
RNY. I had been diabetic for about six years, and used to take glucophage
twice a day. No more. My high blood pressure was also gone about two
months after surgery.
— Vespa R.
January 6, 2004
I had taken several different kinds of oral meds for my diabetes over the
last few years. I only needed insulin during my pregnancies. I was sent
home on Ameril after lapRNY and had to quit taking it by the 3rd week. I'm
now 8 weeks out and my sugars are normal.
— JaimeO
January 6, 2004
Hi Sara, the answer is - for some forms of WLS, yes. One of the most
fascinating studies is being done in Europe right now - surgeons doing the
"duodenal switch" portion of the BPD/DS on non-MO patients who
are severely Type II diabetic. It is proving to be a 98% cure rate across
the board. My surgeon is doing this procedure for patients, as well. So
far, all of them have left diabetes behind! It's so exciting!
I was terribly diabetic before my DS. My fasting blood sugars were in the
high 200s and low 300s WITH maximum oral medication. I probably should
have been on insulin, according to my endochronologist, but my doctor
didn't think my heart could handle the extra weight that would come with
that therapy. I had my DS on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday my blood
sugars shot up into the 600s and 700s and I was then on insulin for the
first time in my life. By Friday it was down to the normal range. By the
time I was discharged on the Sunday I was off of all of my diabetes meds.
I'm 18 months post-op now, have lost 188 lbs so far, and my fasting blood
sugars are around the 78 to 80 range.
I don't miss the diabetes - or the testing the blood 5 times a day - or the
handful of meds I took daily - or the constant fear of food and what it
could do to me! - AT ALL!
I've got some good medical abstracts on the topic if you'd like to see them
- they're on the www.bodybybaltasar.com web site, in the downloads area.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
January 6, 2004
I had to take two insulin shots while in the hospital after surgery due to
the glucose drip my surgeon uses, but took no meds once I left. I just got
my 6 month labs back and my hemoglobin A1C was 4.0% which is actually a
little too low. (Normal is 4.3 - 6.1%) I seem to average around 65 - 80
fasting sugars.
— Rachael B.
January 6, 2004
I am a type 2 diabetic. Before surgery I was taking 80 units of 70/30
insulin aday. My blood sugar numbers were high while I was in the
hospital, they put sugar water in the IV and I had to take my insulin shots
in the hospital, and for one day after I got home from surgery. For about
a week my blood sugars were around 140 to 150, and the doctor told me to
take a shot of 15 units of insulin if my blood sugar numbers went over 150.
As I lost weight my numbers continued to lower. My first blood test (A1C)
at 3 months post-op was high, it was 8.2, but neither my surgeon of pcp
seemed worried, now that I am 5 months post-op my A1C is back to 7.0
without any insulin. So I do not need oral or insulin to treat my blood
sugar mubers. It does not always happen that fast for everyone, but I hope
your Blood sugars do go into remission, like mine did.
— cindy
January 6, 2004
I'm completely off all meds concerning my diabetes II. I was taking two
types of pills plus a needle every night. Now since my wls I am free from
it.
— Naes Wls J.
January 6, 2004
I was so Type 2 that I developed pancreatitis - I had blood sugars in the
600's. 21 months post op Lap RNY and I am tending to be a bit
hypoglycemic... doesn't happen for everyone, but most all of my previously
diabetic post-op pals are off all diabetes meds. <br><br>
Good luck to you as well!
— kultgirl
January 9, 2004
Sara, I was a Type 2 diabetic and my surgeon(s) discontinued ALL of the
diabetic meds I was taking while I was in the hospital. I was on oral
insulin (Metformin 1000-1500) twice per day. I was truly thankful for that.
Hadiyah, a.k.a.~~~
— yourdivaness
October 26, 2005
I would say, most definitely, YES. My surgeon(s) took me off oral insulin
(I was Diabetes Mellitus-Type 2), while in the hospital at the time of my
WLS, BUT, now since I've started gaining the weight back, my
Endocrinologist is having me to 'monitor' my blood sugars. What they don't
know is that I AM NOT GOING BACK that way!! No Way!!
— yourdivaness
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