Curious to the answer of this question...

With me being a nurse I have a hard time coming up with an answer of the following question: Will I still be a diabetic after surgery if my HgbA1C is in nondibetic range and my fastings are within normal limits? We were always told as nurses that once you are a diabetic, always a diabetic. Just would called "diet-controlled". Personally I would love to rid myself of the label if I could and I have heard others on here and even some of the surgeons saying things like "ridding yourself of diabetes, curing the diabetes after surgery". I have heard someone say "no, there isn't a cure for diabetes, but WLS is the closest thing to it." What are your thoughts on this? Do you still consider yourself a "diabetic" if everything is within normal limits? Just curious as to your viewpoints in this. Thanks! Melissa

Hi Melissa, I'm NOT a nurse, but I AM a type 1 diabetic and have been for almost 40 yrs. now. I know that type 2 diabetics normally leave the hospital post-op no longer needing diabetes meds. This will not be the case for me. As a type 1, my pancreas stopped producing insulin when I was 10. I'll still have the disease, still use my pump, still have blood sugar swings but to a much lesser extent. I'll be on much less insulin and I'm praying that this will help me be here longer (I'm just not done with stuff yet!!), slow down the complications I'm dealing with from it and take some pressure that 100 pounds too many is putting on my already taxed heart. So, if you're a type 2, there's an excellent chance you may no longer require meds and your symptoms will disappear. If you're a type 1 as I am, you'll still have it, but things should be much easier to deal with. I have my second initial meeting with my surgeon today and I've a ton of questions for him. At our first meeting a year ago (I wasn't ready for this then) he explained the post-op meds scoop for types 1 and 2. Hope this helps!! Marie

Hi,

I am very interested in your progress. I have type 1 diabetes and weigh 265.  I have been researching bypass surgery for a few years. Where are you now in the process?

Sara

If you are diabetic now you will always be diabetic. It is possible that it goes into remission post-op. Mine did not but has improved dramatically with a reduction of insulin or over 2/3's. My sugars are in great control and my A1C is at 6.5.....at my highest it was at 14. So I am feeling great and it keeps getting better. I am almost 10mos out and hope to be off all meds in a couple of months and just be on Metformine.

I hear your pain... being a nurse also I know it is standard to always be diabetic... but... my son became diabetic due to extremely high dose steriods , after 1 year the situation somehow resolved itself.  Looking at the current h&p's from his last admission it doesn't list diabetes on his history so i guess that means he is no longer diabetic.  If it works for him it should work the same way for us i would think!

my son became diabetic due to extremely high dose steriods............ Raising BGL is a common side effect of steiods...   While your son was "diabetic" as a result, the other problems contributing to true diabeites most likely were not present.  Many diabetics ( type 2) still produce some insulin but theyr bodies are not using it very well, or have developed anti boside to insulin (diabeites is an auto -inmune disiease).  Type ones stop producing isnlun all together.  If you are (type 2) using insulin before surgery then most likely your does will be greatly reduced, or even switched over to pills. Or even be able to control it with diet, and exersize.  do a google search for diabeties anw gastric by pass and see what comes up.  It is very misleading to say we are cured...... as my MD says Only pork is cured! Lisa

I have been a diabetic for 4 years now. About 2 years ago I joind a weightloss class and my diabedes went under controll no need for meds and my numbers were perfect. I loost 68lbs at that time. I felt so good then My class finished and slowly the weight started creeping back I gained the 68lbs as well as 20 more my diabedes is so out of controll right now it scares me. So you I believe that you will always be a diabetic. Just when I thought it went away it came back I guess it was just sleeping. I am having wls in January and I hope to put it to sleep for good.