Question:
Gastric Bypass cures Diabetes
I disagree with Ruth S. comments about it being weight loss, and not the surgery itself, that cures Diabetes. Yes, weight loss through dieting (or any means) can cure Diabetes. However, Doctor's have been finding that in the vast majority of patients who have Gastric Bypass Surgery, their Diabetes is completely reversed within a few days or weeks of surgery, before any significant weight was even lost. Doctor's were puzzled by this, and an Italian Doctor began researching it. He found that Gastric Bypass Surgery cures Diabetes in over 90% of patients so quickly due to the surgery itself. I can not explain it in great detail because I am not a Doctor, but the "jist" of it is that; when they cut/alter the lower intestine during the surgery, this alteration causes hormones to be released that rapidly causes a reversal of Type 2 Diabetes. Doctors are now hoping to come up with a modified version of this surgery, for people who are Type 2 Diabetics, but not overweight. The modified version of the surgery could be used to cure Diabetes in those patients as well, without the weight loss. I appreciate Ruths comments about how Diabetes can be cured through weight loss (like dieting) but, as I have just explained, she is misinformed about the fact the Gastric Bypass DOES cure Diabetes, the surgery itself cures it, not only the weight loss. — Gina S. (posted on July 14, 2008)
July 14, 2008
Just FYI, might want to be cautious with taking to heart any comments made
by Ruth S. (user name Momshap). If you read her profile very carefully, she
has not had weight loss surgery and is not planning on having it. She is
trying to sell a weight loss product and lists her "goals" on her
profile here is to "recruit" 30 people for weight loss. She's
here trying to get free advertising on OH.com. I would report her, but
don't know how. And again, she is wrong about Gastric Bypass not curing
Diabetes, and I am sure no one appreciates her misinforming people who come
here looking for accurate information just so she can sell her diet
products.
— Gina S.
July 14, 2008
You're absolutely right. There was a whole segment on this topic on 60
Minutes a couple months ago. You can find it on YouTube. There's a theory
that removing the portion of the stomach is the factor. Weightloss alone
does not cure it, as many diabetics can attest. There are plenty of thin
people who suffer from the disease.
— suezahn4me
July 14, 2008
Just to put in my 2 cents worth, I was one of the people who suffered from
type 2 diabetes. I was diagnosed in 1997 and was taking 3 different types
of oral medication to control my glucose levels. I had WLS (RNY) on June
23, 2008 and am now off all diabetic medication. I had to get a small
amount of insulin the first 2 days after surgery, but no diabetes
medication since and my glucose levels are within normal limits. Seems
like something cured something...lol. Like I said, just wanted to add my
little comment. Thanks. Ann
— Ann Field
July 14, 2008
I have sent out to people on this web site over 40 DVD's of the 60 minutes
story on this. If you and a few more want to see it because you are
considering WLS, I will be glad to make more and send them out to you.
You are right about the surgery. The first third of the small intestine is
called the Durdeautium (SP) and it process the fat, sugar and carbs we eat.
When you have Gastric Bypass like a RNY, they conect this first third to
the last third of the small intestine, and the majorty of the old stomach
just makes gastric acid and the Durdeautium (SP) passes it to the last
third to aid in digestion. Basicly, this is why you can get sick for a few
hours (dumping) by eating fat, sugar or non-complex carbs. Sugar and fat
hit you more than carbs, and after 6 months to a year the carb will pass
without too much dificult, but carbs like corn just go right through you
with no conversion to sugar. In Brazil they are doing the surgery to move
this Durdeautium (SP) on normal weight type two diabitics. This will not
help type one dibatics. In my case, I had diabities for 25 years, and
after a month all my drug and insulin were gone. I took liquid protein
only for 6 months and lost almost as much weight as I did with RNY, but I
did not cure the diabities, reduce my blood pressure much or cure my high
colestral, all of which are a thing of the past with RNY for me at age 62.
I found a new internest because by old one dose not want to admit that with
a BMI of 5.5 after years of high 6's and 7's thta I am cured, but I know,
as I don't take the first drug for any of these issues. I tested the diet
theriory and it did not work. By the way, it only took 7 months for me to
put 110 lbs back on from the diet and with RNY, I am still losing and
feeling great about it. I have learned a new way to eat, and I will never
go back to fat. My BMI just got below 30 after years of over 50. Hope
this help some of you reading the trash that ruth the saleswoman is
pushing. Tell her to come up with some success storys that can be
verified.
— William (Bill) wmil
July 14, 2008
I agree with all the above answers the weight loss, improved diet, hormone
changes and malabsorbtion of carbs and sugars all contribute to curing or
helping diabetes.
— hannahsmom1014
July 14, 2008
while i totally agree- there are many post op wls pts whose type II has
returned- not often but we know it happens. We just have to vigilant all
the time. Cindi -230 lbs 3-24-04
— DollyDoodles
July 14, 2008
Thank you Gina A and all posters. I spotted that post and wanted to add my
two cents but being a newbie I held back, Am havingthe WLS to lose weight
AND get rid of my diabetes. Lets just all hope to keep feeling better
thanks to modern medical research...Thanks to all!!!!
— zieberrae
July 15, 2008
After surgery I have not had to take my diabetes meds again. I am almost
three months out and do not take any of the meds I used to my doctor told
me to get rid of them once I had the surgery and my levels are great.
— Melanie C.
July 15, 2008
My type II diabetes stopped immediately after surgery (in face I was still
in the hospital). No meds since and it has been 9 months. I still check my
blood sugar periodically and it has been in a normal range. My A1C dropped
from 7. 5 to 5.5.
— Cathy 1.
July 15, 2008
I am a diabetic and right now it is in control with diet and exersize. I
stopped taking anything for the diabetes 1 week before surgery and I have
never looked back. I was taking oral meds 2 times a day and at first was on
5 shots a day then got a insulin pump and had to use U500 insulin for it
instead of the U100. I was that insulin resistant. I feel at this, time and
I do not forsee it changing, that once a diabetic always a diabetic. I have
mine under control with diet and exersize but that could change. It is up
to my body and how it reacts. I always have in my mind that I am a diabetic
and will be until I die. that is my own personal opinion. You can take it
or leave it.
— Brenda R.
July 15, 2008
Bill explained it...the duodenum absorbs all the sugars, and when this part
of the intestines is bypassed, the body doesn't absorb the sugars the
same...the reason we have to be type II diabetics is because the pancreas
must still produce insulin to control the sugars after surgery. If the
person does not produce insulin before surgery, the gastric bypass will not
cure their diabetes...I was diagnosed at age 31 with non-insulin dependent
diabetes mellitus, and as soon as 2 days post-op, I was free from my two
oral hypoglycemic meds and one injectable...I too wanted the bypass as
opposed to lap band b/c of the possibility of no longer being diabteic!! It
pays to research and be informed, and it's a sad thing that some sales
woman is trying to sway people's decisions with falsehoods...Thanks for the
question/topic...It's one of my favorite topics...Michelle
— Michelle M.
July 15, 2008
Just to throw in my two cents - I was banded on April 29, 2008 and was
discharged the next day without my diabetes meds. My glucose levels fell
dramatically from that day on - and are average now. So it's not just the
RNY that helps with diabetes, the banding does too.
— Monte57
July 15, 2008
There is no such thing as a cure for Diabetes. It can go into remission
once you lose enough weight but it is always there on the sidelines. Donna,
RN
— Donna O.
July 15, 2008
You ARE SO RIGHT! I sent her a link to the 60 minutes program and also to
the video that shows that RNY also decreases risk of cancer by 80%.....One
by NBC News and the other CBS News!
— .Anita R.
July 16, 2008
Gina -- while many of those on this site have experienced a
"remission" in their diabetes due to weight loss (and I did, too,
in the early go -- I'm now 8 years + out from a VBG), I hesitate to use the
word "cure". While it's true that Type II diabetes is sensitive
to weight loss, if you have a genetic predisposition toward developing it,
it's quite likely you'll get it no matter what you weigh. I had been
diagnosed as having mild type II diabetes in 1998 or 1999, and, within
several months of having my surgery in April 2000, all of my symptoms were
gone. And they stayed gone for six years. However, my father and my
paternal grandmother both had type II diabetes, I had severe gestational
diabetes when I was pregnant with my first son, I gave birth to 2 babies
weighing 10 pounds -- more or less -- apiece, so I won the crappy genetic
lottery on that score. When I was "re-diagnosed" -- now not with
mild but with moderate Type II -- I was about 140 pounds LIGHTER than I was
when I was diagnosed the first time, so if it was totally driven by weight
it made absolutely no sense. If you have no family history of diabetes,
it's quite possible that WLS will get rid of your symptoms and they'll
never return, but if you have risk factors, such as I cited above, you
might end up with it anyway after a period of "remission". I'm
not saying this to scare you but to alert you to the fact that WLS doesn't
always "cure" everything that's wrong with us -- but, on the up
side, managing it's a lot easier when you don't weigh 350 pounds. Cheers
--
— Cheryl Denomy
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