Can Bariatric Surgery Cure My Diabetes?

A Life Changer
Diabetes can take you from a fun, carefree life to a boot-camp existence in the blink of an eye. One morning you're minding your own business, eating, drinking, resting... watching Queen of the South on Netflix. Next thing, you're at a doctor's appointment for a routine exam being told,  "You've got Type 2 diabetes".  It was something you were always afraid could happen. Your mother has it, your grandmother had it, and your sister too. It was always kind of a ticking time bomb. But now the KAPOW has happened and you're feeling the sting of all the changes you're going to have to make to stay alive. Stay alive??
Diabetes is a killer. Six people will die from complications of diabetes every minute somewhere in the world. Diabetes is one of the top ten causes of death in the United States. 

How did I get here?
You might think that it's purely genetic but if you have Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, it's very likely that you're overweight. In fact, people with severe obesity are 4 times more likely to get it. What's worse, you have an 80 percent greater chance of dying early because of this disease. Science has shown that you will live a shorter life, on average by about 10-15 years, if you have this condition. 

How do I get out of here?
Well, there's always medicines, diet and exercise. But how many people are really able to keep their lifestyle on this straight and narrow path? Not only that, but the medicines you'll need to keep your blood sugars in check will add up along over time. So will the doses you'll need to stay on top of the condition.
I believe that bariatric surgery is a meaningful treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes goes into remission for almost 80% of Type 2 diabetic patients who get bariatric surgery. And if it doesn't resolve, chances are high that you will see your:

• blood sugar levels (go down)
• need for medication reduced
• complications from the disease improve

You might think that weight loss surgery (WLS) resolves diabetes through weight loss, and that would make sense EXCEPT...gastric bypass surgery patients have shown that the small intestine starts to produce a molecule called GLUT-1 very soon after surgery. The GLUT-1 allows the body to regulate glucose, and this happens with gastric bypass possibly because after surgery, the food bypasses the stomach and goes straight to the small intestine.

Am I a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?
Typically you must have a BMI over 35 in addition to diabetes in order for insurance to pay for WLS. If your BMI is over 40, you are considered to have "Morbid Obesity" and are more likely be covered.
Don't know your BMI? Check it here: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm

More Questions?
Irene, our office manager and all-around caretaker for our PsyConOps practice has had WLS. She is always happy to share her insights, and she can sign you up for our Bariatric Support Group where you can meet people who have had the surgery and want to help others. We have developed a warm and welcoming community of people who understand what it's like to struggle with weight and who haven't lost hope. If you're shy and don't want to do anything formal, just give us a call at 575-652-4383. Tell us your concerns or ask your questions. You'll discover very quickly, that we really are here to support your needs. Hablamos Espanol.