Dr. Said RNY

I was 5'2 and 165 pounds when my doctor suggested RNY.  I thought it was crazy but he said if I even lost 20 pounds from the surgery that it would do wonders for my diabetes and health.

Instead I went on insulin.  Fast forward ten years and I weighed 208 pounds when I finally decided to have RNY.  For me, it was too late to put the diabetes into remission.

I am now at a normal weight of 136 but still need insulin to control the blood sugar.  The longer you wait, the less chance that diabetes will go into remission.

Be smart and take the opportunity now to have RNY and get the diabetes into remission before it is too late. 

With out of control type 2 diabetes, I'd have a DS.   No question

Me too, if I had known that the DS existed before surgery.  All I knew about was the lapband or RNY. 

So the DS puts diabetes in remission?

Old dog learning something new.

It's something like 98 + per cent, if I remember rightly and way better that RNY and sleeve in terms of long term remission.  

This articles discusses the studies Diabetes Remission

I was a bit heavier than you when I had RNY, but my diabetes was out of control.  My A1C was 10.7 right before I went for my first appointment and I was using insulin.  I had RNY in August 2015 and my A1C had come down to 8.5 with my pre-op diet and insulin.  When I had surgery, I stopped all diabetes medication, and in November of 2015 my A1C was 4.7 unmedicated.  I'm a year out and just had my blood drawn last week for my follow up and my A1C is 5.1 unmedicated.  My diabetes is in remission.

I was only diabetic for 3 years prior to surgery, so I don't know if that makes a difference or not.  

Being diabetic for three years makes a big difference.  The longer you wait for surgery, the less chance of remission.  Five years lowers the odds and ten years pretty much negates them.

The last study I read put the line at just over 7 years. It described the pancreas like a battery. There is only so much juice in there, and that's how long it takes to run dry. And even if diabetes goes into remission, if you drained enough of your capacity before surgery, the diabetes can still return after.

I hope people listen too you, and have the surgery sooner, rather than later. The sooner we can get better, and especially get rid of diabetes, the better off we'll be.

I was considered a lightweight at 236lbs on surgery day and 5'4" tall.  It is very rare for someone to lose too much weight.   I wouldn't spend any effort worrying about that part of this equation.

If your surgeon is experienced and the DS is an option he is offering you to help with your diabetes, then that is what I would do.  The DS is the best choice for diabetes remission as far as I understand.  RNY is the next best.  I wouldn't even consider the Sleeve for diabetes control if given the other choices.  

Hi Ebony,  I don't have much expertise as I just attended a seminar on Saturday...but, like you I am 5'2.5" and about 229-230, BMI 41. I don't have diabetes (yet) but my mother does so I sort of expect it.  I had been leaning towards DS but in the seminar the surgeon said the lowest BMI he would do DS for was a 43 unless they had diabetes. 

I'd like to keep in touch since we are of similar size, and you aren't too far ahead of me in this process.

Good luck!

Joy