FOR ME I HAD R N Y SURGERY IN 1980 AT 550 LBS. HAD A REVISION IN 91. HAD LOW BLOOD SUGAR OFTEN WHEN I GOT DOWN TO 187. I WAS VERY ACTIVE. DANCING EVERY NIGHT AND REAlly watching what i ate. i  carried an ice chest around with me all the time. learned how it felt when i need to eat or drink something fast. dont have much trouble anymore.  but can eat a little bit more now. and a little bit bigger. aprox 245 to 250 lbs now

Hi Cindy - Weaverwoman has great responses to your question.  For me, I am actually at Type 1.5 (LADA) diabetic, which means I have alll the insulin insufficiency of a Type 1 diabetic, but I also have all of the insulin resistance of a Type 2 diabetic.  Combine that with PCOS and, as my endocrinologist and surgeon said, "you have bad biology."  And that is quite true.  When I transitioned on to insulin 25 years ago, I gained about 100 pounds over time.  Remember, I needed insulin, but I was also insulin RESISTANT, so I needed lots of insulin and pills to try to get a fairly insufficient response.

I had RNY 16 months ago and am THRILLED with my results.  I have lost about 90 of the 100 pounds I put on.  I still have type 1 insulin insufficiency and always will.  But, my insulin resistance is greatly reduced, so I use exogenous (injected) insulin better and more efficiently than I did before the surgery.

I never considered the band because, from researching, I knew that I needed the gut level changes that I could only get through RNY - basically the malabsorption and all the other changes that happen in your digestive system.  The band ONLY gives you restriction (smaller portion), and doesn't not change metabolism.  Knowing that I had bad biology, I knew the only thing that would work for me was RNY.  I briefly considered DS (duodenal switch), but I am 55 and have osteopenia, so could not take the risk of having worse calcium malabsorption (which comes with DS).  So, RNY was the right decision for me and it has worked very well. 

The key to making a good decision for YOU is to research, research, research, and talk to a few different surgeons.  Ask questions about what they recommend and WHY.  Ask questions so that you understand the WHY part.  I saw three surgeons during my pre-surgical phase and actually thought about the decision for about 9-10 years before I got focused, serious and ready to make a decision.  Getting ready to make a decision is a process too - and something that has to be considered as part of it.

What other questions do you have?   Shoot them out here - we'll try to answer.

Best of luck with your decision!

I'm glad you asked!  I started out with Lap Band in 2008.  My surgeon recommended RNY but I was scared.  I wanted something "reversible" and RNY seemed so permanent.  Also, I was very afraid of dumping syndrome and the possibility of having hypoglycemia and dumping when I was treating a low BG.  So, I had the lapband and lost about 50 pounds.  I had trouble with inflammation.  The "top" of my stomach would get irritated and swell, and I would have repeated bouts of having to have the band loosened because of vomiting.  Then I would regain weight, get frustrated, have the band tightened, lose weight, stop tolerating food, have it loosened again, etc, etc.  Finally I had all the fluid removed from my band.  I regained all the weight, and THEN considered RNY.  My endocrinologist said "Yes, now they are saying that lapband may not be the best choice for diabetics."

Boy, do I wish I'd listened to my surgeon the first time.  I'm not quite 6 months postop, but have noticed a world of difference with RNY.  I've lost so much weight.  I seem to be doing well with the malabsorption component in addition to the restrictive component.  It hasn't been easy, for sure, but I'm so glad I did it.

As I have lost weight, I'm off all my blood pressure medication, depression medication, and the overall pain and inflammation I had in my body is improving.  My insulin needs have dropped as my weight has dropped so that helps with continued weight loss.  Insulin acts as the "key" to unlock the cells so that glucose can enter the cells and be burned.  If there is more glucose than the cells need it is stored as fat.  So, more insulin combined with more glucose (food) means more fat storage.  It's an efficient system, but one that doesn't do US any favors!

Good luck with your decision about WLS.

But I have heard that bariatric obesity surgery generally cure type 2 diabetes? Do you mean that after surgery your sugar has increased?

Still losing weight.  Hurray.  Fighting terrible blood sugar swings, made worse by a totally inaccurate CGM.  Can't wait until the warranty expires in June so I can get a new one.  Overall, not too bad though.