Just wondering

 I have been reading several posts from people who have had the lap band surgery. This is the one that I am hoping to get. First, I know that this won't be a quick fix for me and the weight just won't disappear. I know that I have to put effort into this and that won't be a problem (I hope) but how does the lap band help with the insulin resistance that I have? Will I still crave the carbs and sugar? Before I got insulin resistance I did not crave either carbs or sugar so with the Lap Band will I go back to the pre-insulin resistance? My doctor told me that all of my co-morbidities will go away, but after reading some of these posts I am concerned. Any thoughts or experiences on this?

Lap band will NOT cure IR the way some other surgeries do. I think the DS surgery does and probably RNY but I'm not an expert. Bottom line to remember is that Lap Band does not change your anatomy or physiology at all, it just helps you get satisfied sooner and stay satisfied longer. The truth of the matter is most of the comorbities tend to resolve when weight is lost.

The best treatment for IR is a low glycemic index diet which is what we all should be doing with the band anyway. That means eat mostly protein, then vegetables, then complex carbohydrates like true whole grains, and maybe some fruit but definitely avoid processed sugar and tropical fruits.  Eating that way will resolve the cravings and assist in weight loss - combined with the band you're eating much smaller quantities of the right stuff so it works doubly well.

I have had PCOS with IR since I was 16. Never could lose more than 30 lbs if my life depended on it. Have lost 95 now with my band in a year and it hasn't been "that" hard. I've done harder things.

But if you want something that will really cure the IR you need to look at surgeries that have a metabolic effect.

Good luck!

Hello everyone

I don't know much about IR so I can't comment their but I do know about craving carbs.  Like the other poster said we all should be staying away from the simple carbs and eating complex carbs.  I can tell you from my own experience that the longer you stay away from them the less I crave them.  If I give in and eat something it makes me want MORE!!!  Some people live by the moderation- not deprivation... but for me giving myself little bits of this stuff here and there makes me want more and more of it.  

Good luck   

Stacy,

I would suggest talking to Jessie Ahroni on the Smartbandsters yahoo group list.   She is a RN who is a Diabetes Educator (so should know a little something about Insulin Resistance) and is also banded (more than 10 years now).

The group can be found at

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters

Hope this is helpful.

My type 2 diabetes is in complete remission and has been since my surgery.  My food intake is primarily protein and low glycemic veggies which is one explanation.  The other part of that is that when we lose the "belly fat" or omentum weight, our metabolism starts to normalize.  When we are very obese, we suffer from what the doctors call "metabolic syndrome" meaning our cardiac risk factors increase, LDL goes up, HDL, down and insulin resistance occurs, along with other factors.  When we lose the belly, we lose many of the risk factors, as well...look it up on WebMD or even Wikipedia.
My blood glucose has been normal for 9 months and my A1C is under 6 for the first time in 5 years.

But how do we lose the belly fat.  I'm 20 lbs from my goal and I think it's all in my belly!