Did having the RNY surgery help with Diabetes?
I had my RNY on 06/05/2012. I went in for it because of my diabetes - so I guess weight loss is a welcome side effect. I have at least a hundred pounds to lose, but that's secondary in my mind. I have been shooting insulin for 22 years. When I got out of the hospital, my lantus was decreased and then again yesterday when I saw my endocrinologist. I am taking 0 - 7 units of humalog a day now which is a fraction of what I was taking before. My doc gave me instructions for decreasing the lantus further in the future and said that he wouldn't be surprised if I get off insulin entirely at some point. Personally, I will be shocked if that happens.
I just wanted to say that I think you should be careful with the metformin and byetta. They did their job on me, but also made me sick. I ended up in the hospital with kidney failure from dehydration. When they took me off those meds,. my blood sugar levels shot up.
So here I am now on this adventure. Keep us posted...
I just wanted to say that I think you should be careful with the metformin and byetta. They did their job on me, but also made me sick. I ended up in the hospital with kidney failure from dehydration. When they took me off those meds,. my blood sugar levels shot up.
So here I am now on this adventure. Keep us posted...
No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch. 
You are doing great. I too hope you come off the meds sooner than later.
I actually only took the meds for about one week then I started exercising and I have been following the pre-op diet for 4 months now. My A1C went from 8.9 to 6.5 in 3 months without medication.
I am exited about starting my new journey and hopefully put diabetes in remission for many,many years.
I actually only took the meds for about one week then I started exercising and I have been following the pre-op diet for 4 months now. My A1C went from 8.9 to 6.5 in 3 months without medication.
I am exited about starting my new journey and hopefully put diabetes in remission for many,many years.
Hi there, congrats on your decision to move forward with WLS and welcome to the forum!
Phillygirl gave you some great advice and information! Adding to that. . . . . you questioned RNY or sleeve for diabetes control. . .RNY or DS (duodenal switch) both cause metabolic changes with your GLP-1 that affect the changes in your diabetes. The sleeve does not, so though the sleeve would certainly assist you in weight loss, it would not metabolically assist you with putting your diabetes into remission. I would suggest discussing this in depth with your surgeon.
I'm a Type 2 diabetic for 6 years now, got the LapBand in 2006, lost 100 lbs, off meds IMMEDIATELY after surgery, and diabetes in remission until 2008 when I had plastic surgery, developed horrendous acid reflux and had to have my band unfilled. Re-gain of 50 lbs and diabetes back with a vengence, way worse than before. Finally, 4 weeks ago I was able to have my LapBand removed and revised to a RNY.
Now, I am down 29 lbs and off Metformin XR, but still taking daily Victoza shots. However, my sugars have dropped from 280-300+ (fasting) to an average of 123-145 (fasting). As you can see, my diabetes did not immediately go into remission this time; however, look how fast my numbers have come down! I am hoping that in a few more weeks, I will be off of the Victoza too, and my diabetes will be strictly diet-controlled and back in remission.
One of the things discussed at our support group was how some insurance companies are now covering diabetics with a BMI of as low as 35 to have RNY to put their diabetes in remission. Apparently there are also talks going on to even lower the BMI range to allow more diabetics to have the surgery in the future. How amazing is it, that although it is not a "cure", having this surgery could potentially put diabetes into remission for thousands and thousands of people?!?!? I can't even wrap my head around how many lives could be saved.
I just put some pics up on my profile, and have a few blogs about how my surgery went, you are welcome to take a look if you are interested, or you can message me directly if you would like.
Best of luck to you!!!!
HW 287, GW 150, CW 168 ** Band to RNY 05/29/12 **
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish? Join us-Lightweights Board!
On June 29, 2012 at 6:43 AM Pacific Time, Turtle Lynn wrote:
Hi there, congrats on your decision to move forward with WLS and welcome to the forum!
Phillygirl gave you some great advice and information! Adding to that. . . . . you questioned RNY or sleeve for diabetes control. . .RNY or DS (duodenal switch) both cause metabolic changes with your GLP-1 that affect the changes in your diabetes. The sleeve does not, so though the sleeve would certainly assist you in weight loss, it would not metabolically assist you with putting your diabetes into remission. I would suggest discussing this in depth with your surgeon.
I'm a Type 2 diabetic for 6 years now, got the LapBand in 2006, lost 100 lbs, off meds IMMEDIATELY after surgery, and diabetes in remission until 2008 when I had plastic surgery, developed horrendous acid reflux and had to have my band unfilled. Re-gain of 50 lbs and diabetes back with a vengence, way worse than before. Finally, 4 weeks ago I was able to have my LapBand removed and revised to a RNY.
Now, I am down 29 lbs and off Metformin XR, but still taking daily Victoza shots. However, my sugars have dropped from 280-300+ (fasting) to an average of 123-145 (fasting). As you can see, my diabetes did not immediately go into remission this time; however, look how fast my numbers have come down! I am hoping that in a few more weeks, I will be off of the Victoza too, and my diabetes will be strictly diet-controlled and back in remission.
One of the things discussed at our support group was how some insurance companies are now covering diabetics with a BMI of as low as 35 to have RNY to put their diabetes in remission. Apparently there are also talks going on to even lower the BMI range to allow more diabetics to have the surgery in the future. How amazing is it, that although it is not a "cure", having this surgery could potentially put diabetes into remission for thousands and thousands of people?!?!? I can't even wrap my head around how many lives could be saved.
I just put some pics up on my profile, and have a few blogs about how my surgery went, you are welcome to take a look if you are interested, or you can message me directly if you would like.
Best of luck to you!!!!
Thanks for sharing your pictures. And thanks for all of the info you gave me, it's all so helpful.
G.
So glad to see the shared experiences and wisdom from all of you! I think, as diabetics, we are faced with certain challenges in all of this. Even for a type 1 like me, I see improvements. I have been able to get rid of a lot of my oral meds and I think I am getting more out of my insulin. Over all, though, I am healthier. I know that. I used to have ankle swelling every summer and I haven't had a BIT of that this year. So many things....
I choose to see my diabetic management as a complement to my WLS management - keep my carbs down, eat only at mealtimes without grazing, taking my meds (and supplements) on schedule, charting my carbs/pairing them with insulin dosing - all of these things are good health practics. I practiced them before surgery, but now I get to see pounds come off, which was impossible before.
There was a type 2 diabetic woman who had RNY the same day as me. I ran into her at our 3 month follow up visit, and she was talking about eating chocolate cake. Her diabetes had been resolved by the surgery, so she was eating whatever she wanted, albeit in reduced portions. I get it - I love chocolate cake too - but I just couldn't fathom doing that so soon. I'm 9 months out now and I don't try that stuff. Sometimes a TASTE, but even that is super rare. Who needs it? It took me 9 years to make this decision, and I just don't want to start allowing myself to think (then behave) in ways that are self destructive for me. I just don't want to go there. It ALL takes discipline. One of the reasons I was told that I'd be very successful at this was because I have discipline after 25+ years of being diabetic. So, today at least, I choose to see my diabetes as a blessing that helps me stay focused.
Please keep posting - I think it's great that we are able to have these conversations!
I choose to see my diabetic management as a complement to my WLS management - keep my carbs down, eat only at mealtimes without grazing, taking my meds (and supplements) on schedule, charting my carbs/pairing them with insulin dosing - all of these things are good health practics. I practiced them before surgery, but now I get to see pounds come off, which was impossible before.
There was a type 2 diabetic woman who had RNY the same day as me. I ran into her at our 3 month follow up visit, and she was talking about eating chocolate cake. Her diabetes had been resolved by the surgery, so she was eating whatever she wanted, albeit in reduced portions. I get it - I love chocolate cake too - but I just couldn't fathom doing that so soon. I'm 9 months out now and I don't try that stuff. Sometimes a TASTE, but even that is super rare. Who needs it? It took me 9 years to make this decision, and I just don't want to start allowing myself to think (then behave) in ways that are self destructive for me. I just don't want to go there. It ALL takes discipline. One of the reasons I was told that I'd be very successful at this was because I have discipline after 25+ years of being diabetic. So, today at least, I choose to see my diabetes as a blessing that helps me stay focused.
Please keep posting - I think it's great that we are able to have these conversations!
I had RNY on June 27, 2012. I came home Fri. and on Sun. my sugar shot over 300 (had been running in the 200's since surgery). It stayed over 300 all day Sun. and Mon. Called my Dr. and he told me to start taking 15 u. of Lantus at bedtime. This morning it was 286. At lunchtime it had shot up to 409!!! A nurse from the hospital called me and she said anytime your body goes through stress (such as surgery) it will go up. She said not to get discouraged and continue doing what I'm suppose to do. She said it WILL eventually level out and hopefully go away.
She made me feel better because I was really getting discouraged. I was hoping to come home without diabetes!!! I guess my body is just having a hard time adjusting. I am taking a LOT LESS insulin too. Hopefully things will get better soon.
She made me feel better because I was really getting discouraged. I was hoping to come home without diabetes!!! I guess my body is just having a hard time adjusting. I am taking a LOT LESS insulin too. Hopefully things will get better soon.
Yes, absolutely - give it time though. My insulin needs have changed continually over the last 9 months. I was on 39 Lantus just before surgery, then 25 after (with not great sugars). I'm now on 14 units per day and that is a very recent change. I've upped my meal time insulin more, but that gives me tighter control over mealtimes, especially now that my basal (lantus) insulin is correct.
The issue of stress is very real and it will take a bit before you level out again. But, try to be patient. It's hard, because there is so much energy and thought that goes into the surgery, and then we all want immediate results. (I came home from the hospital 10 pounds more than I went in and I thought I was going to freak out!!) When my mom passed away at the end of 2009, I couldn't get my sugars down no matter how little I ate and how much insulin I took. Stress, stress, stress - a few weeks later, it DID settle down.
Just take this a bit at a time. In a few months, everything will have changed a LOT!!
Keep posting, good luck and congrats on being through the surgery!
The issue of stress is very real and it will take a bit before you level out again. But, try to be patient. It's hard, because there is so much energy and thought that goes into the surgery, and then we all want immediate results. (I came home from the hospital 10 pounds more than I went in and I thought I was going to freak out!!) When my mom passed away at the end of 2009, I couldn't get my sugars down no matter how little I ate and how much insulin I took. Stress, stress, stress - a few weeks later, it DID settle down.
Just take this a bit at a time. In a few months, everything will have changed a LOT!!
Keep posting, good luck and congrats on being through the surgery!
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