Help..................my pcp says NOT to do this....

Ok, I had my decision made and my pcp says not to go this route. I am new to diabetes and he says it will not cure diabetes. I had finally made this decision, was excited about it, but now I'm completely confused!! He said that it's too drastic and just doesn't recommend it. I really have a lot of respect for my pcp, but it's not his speciality.....................HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shannon, Some PCP's are just not educated enough in regards to this surgery or have the old fashion notion or the blind "stupidity" that old fashion dieting and exercise is all one needs. Well, I do not know your specific health related problems and diabetes, however what I do know is my situation and I will be glad to share it with you. I have been insulin dependant since I was 17 and I am now 37 will be 38 in June. I have always had a very high insulin resistance and very difficult time controlling my blood sugar. In November of 2006 I had a HA1C of 12.8 and on March 6, 2007 my HA1C, approx 5 weeks after my RNY, was 6.8 (anything below 7.0 is considered normal and this is a record of three months, so I know that it has a few months of before surgery considered into that). I also took 40 units of Regular (short-acting) insulin three times a day before meals and 14 units of Regular insulin at bedtime, now all I take is 15 units of Lantus (long-acting) insulin and my blood sugar is between 79 and 109 all the time. I have also been told that I will possibly be completely be off my insulin as my weight continues to drop within the next 6 months to a year. I am also off 8 out of 9 of the other Rx medications that I was on and the quality of my life is much better than it has ever been. Now, the surgery is something that works differently for everyone, and you must be dedicated to the lifelong commitment and changes that you must make to succeed. This surgery is a tool, not a quick fix, you can gain the weight back if you do not make the lifelong changes that are required, however I know for me, when I decided to have the surgery, I knew that I was ready, because my health was going down hill so quickly that I did not want it to continue and my diabetes was creating more and more problems. No, it may not "cure" your diabetes, but it sure can help control it much better and make it no longer a concern, it sure has made a big difference in my life (I am only 12 weeks out at this point) and I know that there are many others out there with similar stories as well. If your PCP is not supportive, sometimes you may need to look for another PCP that is supportive with WLS, I also know that I received a letter from my Diabetes Endocrinologist in support of my WLS for my insurance company stating that he was in support due to the fact that he thought that the WLS would help with my Diabetes, just another tidbit. Good Luck, Shelia P.S. You have come to a wonderful place for advice, because we have lived it and are willing to share both the good and the bad.

I can tell you what my experience with my PCP, diabetes and this surgery has been. Pre-op I was taking 3 oral medications and still running 140s-150s for fasting blood sugars. Shortly after I started talking to my pcp about the surgery, he told me that he felt like it was time for me to go on injectible meds (insulin). But, since my paperwork had been submitted to the insurance, he was willing to wait and see what the surgery could do for the diabetes. He didn't want to start me on insulin only to have the surgery get me to where I didn't need it. I left the hospital off of all diabetes meds. My latest HbA1C taken last week was 5.3. My fasting blood sugars are now in the mid 70s and low 80s. My pcp says, the surgery does not "cure" diabetes. I will always be diabetic, but now my diabetes is under control. That's close enough to a cure for me! Maybe you need to find another PCP. If this doctor is not supportive of you having the surgery, he will not be supportive after surgery. He may be a wonderful doctor but not the right one for you now. FYI - my cholesterol numbers? HDL - 68; LDL - 82, with no cholesterol meds. He does want my LDL under 80 but I think that's some pretty good numbers for a soon to be 53 year old with a family history of heart & cholesterol problems. Dr. Spaw says my cholesterol is better than his!!

Hi Shannon. I agreew ith the other ladies. I do not think you can ever call Diabetes as "cured" but after surgery, it is considered controlled - usually without any other medication. Your Dr will continue to monitor it forever though. I was hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) since I was 10 and it turned to diabetes a couple of years ago. I was taking two medicines to keep it under control. I have never taken one pill since for diabetes since the day of my surgery. So yes, this surgery does help with diabetes plus so much more. You really can not rely on your dr to tell you what to do with regard to this surgery and your health. You should look to him/her for guidance and approval but not for the ulitamte decision. You really need to do all fo the research and attend the seminars and make the decision for yourself if this is right for you. If you feel it is and your PCP does not want to support your decision, then you need to change Drs. Some Drs are not very supportive of this surgery and that is just to bad. But unless your PCP is agianst it for some other medical reason for you (such as you have nother condition that would not tolerate the surgery or something else) then he should be supportive. Good luck on whatever decision you make. Keep us updated. Misty

Hi Shannon, I agree with your doctor, you will not be cured of diabetes, but you will be able to probably control it with the diet (if you have RNY). I will also share my experience with you. I have been diabetic for about 15 years, I had my surgery in 2004 at the age of 33. I was taking 4 shots of insulin and 4 pills a day to control my blood sugar. I took one shot at each meal and a time release insulin at bedtime. I took 1000mg of Glucophage in the am and 1000mg in the pm. My blood sugar (fasting) still ran about 200. I left the hospital taking no shots that s right NO SHOTS. I took 500mg of Gluchophage a day for about 6 weeks and then after that I have not had to take any meds for my blood sugar, at it now runs about 78 fasting. I do now have times when it drops down too low, but I can fix that with a bite to eat. No I am not cured, but I would say it is in remission. If I ate sugar, carbs etc I'm sure it would skyrocket. But with RNY I can't eat those things without dumping so I don't eat them. I know this is long, but I do feel it necessary for you to know that it will HELP your diabetes. Good luck Darlene

Thank you all so much!! I knew you all would have the valuable info that would help. I am still confident in my decision, but will continue to research it. Thanks again!!