The Sleeve and any Diabetes info?

Hi guys, I' wondering what the results have been with Diabetes after getting the sleeve? If you have had the sleeve and are diabetic are you still having to take your medications? I know with the bypass many can go off the meds right away, but with the sleeve are the results just a good?  I am wondering if going back on real foods starts the symptoms back or not.... Also how low must your A1C be before they will do the sleeve?  Sherry

Can't help you with the diabetes question but I wanted to say your picture looks great!  It's nice to have a face to go with the name!

Thank you so much....It beats a big  ?  for an Avitar huh? haha!

I'm not diabetic, so I don't have personal experience to relay. However, here's a study published in 8-07 that had short term results (4 mos.) comparing sleeve and RNY resolution rates for type II diabetes: 

Research Articles

Short-term Effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Severely Obese Subjects

J. Vidal^{1, 2} , A. Ibarzabal¹, J. Nicolau¹, M. Vidov¹, S. Delgado¹, G. Martinez¹, J. Balust¹, R. Morinigo¹ and A. Lacy¹

(1)	Obesity Unit, Hospital Clinic Universitari, Barcelona, Spain

(2)	Obesity Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain

Received: 15 April 2007  Accepted: 6 May 2007  Published online: 27 July 2007

Background  Data on the effectiveness of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) in improving or resolving type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are scarce. Methods  A 4-month prospective study was conducted on the changes in glucose homeostasis in 35 severely obese T2DM subjects undergoing laparoscopic SG (LSG) and 50 subjects undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP), matched for DM duration, type of DM treatment, and glycemic control. Results  At 4-months after surgery, LSG and LRYGBP operated subjects lost a similar amount of weight (respectively, 20.6 ± 0.7% and 21.0 ± 0.6%). T2DM had resolved respectively in 51.4% and 62.0% of the LSG and LRYGBP operated subjects (P = 0.332). A shorter preoperative DM duration (P < 0.05), a preoperative DM treatment not including pharmacological agents, and a better pre-surgical fasting plasma glucose (P < 0.01) or HbA1c (P < 0.01), were significantly associated with a better type 2 DM outcome in both surgical groups. Conclusions  Our data show that LSG and LRYGBP result in a similar rate of type 2 DM resolution at 4-months after surgery. Moreover, our data suggest that mechanisms beyond weight loss may be implicated in DM resolution following LSG and LRYGBP.

Key words  Morbid obesity - type 2 diabetes mellitus - sleeve gastrectomy - gastric bypass - insulin sensitivity - weight loss

 

So nice to see your smiling face.   I can't speak personally about the diabetes issue but many in our support group have reported an improvement in their diabetes.  Make sure and ask your surgeon.

Hi Sherry - your picture does look nice!  About the diabetes....when I had my initial blood work at WW it showed that I was pre-diabetic. I was on the pre-op diet for five months and during that time, my sugar levels dropped to a non-diabetic level...so in essence, I think the sleeve, which gives you restriction only, will allow your blood sugars to lower, not sure about the medication part, I don't know much about diabetes...except that my husband has it and since I had surgery and he has stopped eating carbs and sugars, his sugar level was 85 last week when he went to the doctor! So, I know I was of no help here, but I think it is promising as far as getting rid of diabetes or at least getting it primarily controlled with diet. Definitely ask Dr. W about this on you appt.  - Anna

WOOHOO look at you! All I can say about the diabetes is this with my RNY i was AC1 5.7 after surgery 3.1

I haven't had the surgery yet but my blood sugars have already gone down. My doctor expects them to go down even further after the surgery. I will be medically monitored at least 6 mths after the surgery but eventually,my diabetic meds will go down or I'll be completely off them. I'm currently on Metformin, Byetta, Actos. Donna

I personally chose the RNY for me because of my Type II Diabetes.  I was taking 140 units of insulin per day to keep in my sugar down and it didn't always do it.  My AIC before surgery was almost 14.  I had surgery on March 12th and have had NO insulin since that day.  I check my blood sugar every day....most of the time and it stays around 105-115 morning fasting.  My last A1C was 5.4!!!  WOOOOHOOOHOOO.  I would like the sleeve would have success especially by not having the carbs and eating better.  Your surgeon should have more data though.  I know that there wasn't much data available for me on the sleeve which is why I choked down the extra $$ for the RNY.  - Debbie

I had my sleeve done 6/2, I was taking 4 shots with 30 units each of novalog, 2 shots with 25 units of lantus and 2000 mg of metformin a day. Since surgery, I am not taking any shots and Dr. B plans to have me off the metformin in the next 30 days. But remember, sleeve patients don't have the dumping that rny patients do, so you still have to watch out for carbs or sugar we're not supposed to eat them anyway. I love my sleeve, and I love not taking shots even more.


Best,

Shelby