New here...Type I just starting the process..have ??

Hi everyone,

I'm new here. I am a Type I diabetic, and I also have hypothyroidism. My BMI is 40 (has fluctuated between 37 and 40 for 3 years). I recently had an appt with my endo and told him I wanted WLS. He has watched me work really hard the last 8 years to try to lose weight, and nothing ever works. It's like a curse. He is completely behind me in my decision and will do whatever is needed to get the surgery. I'll be attending my first seminar on Monday and will set up my first appt with the surgeon then. But I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can answer:

1. Is it any easier to get approved by insurance for WLS when you have diabetes??
2. I have BCBS of MN. WLS is covered, but they require the 6 month supervised diet. My doctor has always supervised my diet (24 weeks on Weigh****chers.....9months with a personal trainer on a restricted calorie diet, etc.). The only problem is that I would only see him every 2-3 months during these programs. Would his chart documentation of those programs be sufficient, or do you think I will have to start another program all over?
3. Also, I have all of my records from these weight loss attempts....the weight cards from weigh****chers, printouts from the gym of all of training sessions as well as non-training sessions (when I just worked out on my own). Do you think I should include that documentation as well.
4. Last question (promise)....can you give me an estimate of how long it actually took from beginning until finally getting surgery....how many months? 

Thanks in advance for all of your expertise!!! 

Amy

Amy,  I have type I and just had RNY 6/6.  Because of the diabetes I got approved with a 35 BMI.  It is called a co-morbidity factor.  So, your chances of being approved should be great.  I have blue cross of california.  No proof of diets required for me.  I wasn't even asked about it.  Mistakes I made which slowed everything down:  I didn't check with insurance on WHO TO GO TO - they only allow certain surgeons to do it in certain hospitals.  BUT,the local doctor wouldn't tell me that, so wasted months of my time, then had to refer me to someone else out of town.  All I was required to do was see a psychiatrist once for a recommendation, and see a nutritionist. All done in the same week.  Doc. ordered labs and chest x-ray, then submitted it all.  Approved in one week.  Surgery scheduled for 2 months later.  I wasted 6 months on the WRONG DOCTOR.

My basals have gone down from 48 to 18!!!! And I'm just getting started.  I'm having complications and have not solved it all yet, but despite the current pain and problems I'm sure I'll get them solved and someday be healthy/healthier than ever.  I had type II as well, so my insulin resistance is solved.  Yippeeeee. 

Best wishes if this is the way you decide to go.  It's hard, it's painful, sometimes frightening, but an investment in health, in your future.  Fern

Thank you Fern!! I really wish I had blue cross of CA. They seem to be the easiest to deal with. Hopefully, BCBS of MN won't be terrible. Sorry you ended up wasting so much time, but at least it's all behind you now and obviously worth it :)

Hi Amy,

I am a type I also, and I believe it helped my case with that main comorbidity.  I also have high blood pressure and had sleep apnea at the time.  My insurance is bcbs of MI.  I was asked to provide a six month supervised diet, in which I did this in the form of sparkpeople.com charts which I printed off for my pcp and saw him every 3 months.  In your case, TOO MUCH information provided is just fine.  And I wasnt questioned when I gave it to the bariatric surgeon.  I did also have to do a phsyc evaluation.

From start to the day I got my surgery date was about 3 wks.  the longest 3 wks of my life!!!

I have reduced my insulin to a 1/3 of what I was taking before my RNY.  Still on bp meds though, but all is good here.  a1c was 5.1 last time from 6.2 the time before.  I am a work-in-progress...

BCBS of TX needed 6mos diet.  Every month ontime after I fini**** to less than a week. I took 4 shot a day left the hospital not taking any that's been  a year ago.  Good Luck and God Bless You