Gastric bypass can cure diabetes--*immediately* after surgery

[tbyg52]

When I first heard about this on the local news last night, my first thought was "well, yeah, if you lose weight your diabetes should get better."

But they're talking about remission just days after surgery. The speculation is that it's got something to do with diminished stomach enzymes (due to the diminished size of the stomach, of course).

My second thought was "maybe someone could come up with a pill that does the same thing."

http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_6190041

Around the country surgeons report that Type 2 diabetes diminishes or disappears altogether in significant numbers of patients who undergo the drastic weight-reduction surgery - often immediately after surgery.

So far, research indicates that it seems to have something to do with changes in gut hormones after the surgery, Meneghini said.

What is clear is that the surgery does have an impact.

Rose (Medical Center)'s (Dr. Michael) Snyder reports that high blood sugar is reduced or eliminated in 82 percent of his gastric bypass patients with diabetes before surgery.

Edited because square brackets don't work right inside an excerpt--I know the parentheses are not the correct way to do it, but they're all that worked....

[Nikki Stone1]

1. I wonder if it can entirely prevent type II diabetes

The operation could be done in people who have a genetic predisposition to the disease.

[Lex]

2. Interesting.

I know 3 people who aren't obese but have Type II (adult onset). Wonder if this surgical procedure would be an option for them to consider since it cures it.

[kestrel91316]

3. Sounds to me like the DRASTICALLY reduced caloric intake

is what's doing it.......

[tbyg52]

7. But it happens virtually immediately after surgery

I suppose they could study diabetics fasting, or eating very little, for a few days as a control (if that's a safe thing for a diabetic to do--I don't know), if they haven't already.

[kestrel91316]

14. The high blood sugar has to come from someplace: food.

But IIRC, diabetics have high FASTING blood sugar.

I'll go shut up now........:yoiks:

[Habibi]

15. Yes--true of my MIL. She ate very little during her long

convalescence from triple-bypass surgery, and her bg numbers were through the roof. She got put on a 4th or 5th "sugar pill" and those numbers are back to normal. Oh, and she's eating, too. Don't know which is the more responsible for her current good numbers.

[JAYJDF]

4. Yes, this is true. My MIL had this surgery because of her weight.

Although she was older than most, they still did it because they knew it would help with her diabetes.

And now, she no longer has diabetes and has lost a lot of weight.

[AspenRose]

5. It worked for my FIL.

He was on medication for his type II diabetes. No more.

[proud patriot]

6. wow that is interesting

:think:

[pitohui]

8. i still have questions

a friend had this done and as you say the immediate effects were dramatic, he lost 70 pounds and was in a terrific state of health and able to travel w.in days, he was able to be active ways he hadn't been in years

i think for type 2 diabetes the fact that you don't eat any more and just drink protein drinks (so low carb is sort of enforced) plays a part in there somewhere

however in less than a year my friend has had all sorts of other health problems, unrelated and not helped by losing weight, such as prostate cancer, blah blah blah, he's just in and out of the hospital now

so i don't know if he really gained anything, he's thin and he had a few good months but i think it's all downhill from here

[Cabcere]

9. Sorry to hear about your friend's recent health troubles, pitohui.

This sounds like it could be quite promising, but then again there are always unknowns and possible bad effects when dealing with something that drastic. I hope your friend gets better. :hug:

[MonkeyFunk]

10. yes

and decapitation cures migraines, too.

[tbyg52]

11. Hey, they don't take the *whole* stomach out

Maybe the correct analogy is a lobotomy....? ;)

[Missy Vixen]

12. A surgery with 1 in 200 mortality rate?

Ever met anyone whose GP surgery went horribly wrong? I have.

I'm with the poster who's thinking that perhaps a medication could be developed that would have the same effect.

Julie

[Avalon Sparks]

13. Duh.....

It's the low carb protein shake and small meals that lower blood sugar. Simple as that. I don't for the life of me know why this is not common knowledge in the medical community. NO SUGAR in.... no high blood sugar - you would think that even a moron could figure that out. And that includes ALL carbs even from fruits and veggies.

The diabetes isn't cured either. If these patients start eating carbs the diabetes will "come back". If you have the gene and eat high carbs your pancreas are burning out trying to normalize your blood sugar. By the time your blood sugar starts edging toward the prediabetes stage, damage has been done. You can almost halt type II to a crawl by eating only very low carb, but you will never be cured and you pancreas will still be damaged. You can only prevent further damage. Otherwise it's always a progressive cycle going from diet/exercise to attempt to control it, to pills to finally insulin.
The only solution to 'stop' the progression is to commit to basically eating around 20-30 carbs per day.

The only cure for diabetes will be when someone discovers how to regenerate beta cells in the pancreas...and I can't imagine there's a whole lot of money in finding a cure when pharmaceutical companies are more interested in coming out with more pills to pop that only serve to delay the inevitable.

The major misinformation out there about Type II diabetes really irritates me.

[koopie57]

17. I am curious where you found that information

I would like to read it. I have struggled with diabetes for years and would get frustrated cuz if ate something I shouldn't, my sugar rose, if I ate very little my sugar would rise. There are so many factors that affect my struggle with diabetes that it surprises me to read your post.

For me it is a combination of meds, diet, stress, exercise, sleep. Not only a combination but consistency.

Also, I was taking prednizone and was told to watch my diabetes closely. I did, but by the last day of the prednizone my sugars were around 400.

[IDemo]

18. Dr. Bernstein is probably the best known source for low carb diabetes regimens

I have read one of his two books, sounds as if it makes Atkins almost high carb in comparison. I have the 'Diabetes Diet' but haven't had the willpower to tackle it yet.

http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/

[Avalon Sparks]

19. Here's some more info

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles with diabetes. My Doc told me in December that I was on the fast track to developing the disease. My FBG and A1C were normal but high normal and they'd been slowly increasing over the last 5 years... my FBG was 96, A1C 5.7. He wanted me to start Metformin to help 'slow' the progress. I argued with him and declined the meds because I was still in the 'normal' range, not even Prediabetic. Then I went home and did about 150 or more hours of research over the next month. Not just websites and message boards... I read as many actual medical studies and I could get my hands on online- especially studies regarding beta cells. I came across Doctor Bernstein's website:

http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/

It confirmed everything I had read so far, and it made sense. Doctor Berstein has been living with Type I for 60 years, and using very little insulin to maintain normal blood sugar. He completely disagress with the American Diabetes Association recommended eating and explains very clearly why. There are large experts from his book on the website, including his recommended way of eating. He disagrees that the carbs in fruits and veggies are OK to eat. I followed his suggestions and had bloodwork done 3 months later. My FBG was 78 and my A1C was 4.9.

For me personally, I'm not willing to chance following anything else. I will occassionally eat a piece of fruit - maybe once every two weeks - but I'm just not going to risk burning out what's left of my functioning beta cells. I want to continue to make my own insulin as long as possible, and if that entails eating protein and fat instead of carbs so be it. My eyes and limbs are too important to me. There's a message board on that site with wonderful stories from the people there that have brought their blood sugar levels down to normal from high's of 500-600 by following his advice. Even some that were already on insulin, have been able to lower their dosage to a very small amount and consistently maintain normal blood sugar levels. For most it seems they have amazing results within a few months.

The way of eating seems so difficult at first, but it does get easier and easier and there are tons of recipes on the bulletin board. After learning every thing I have, it's absolutely appalling to me that diabetics are not given this information by their doctor's or nutritionist. The ADA claims that low carb is too hard for people, and since they expect that most people can't follow it, they recommend a low fat higher carb diet because people can stick to it. Even though through study after study shows the disease always progresses eventually when following their eating plan. I think they should at least give everyone the information and let them decide if it's too hard to follow. Doctor Bernstein, and many studies I've read believe that all the complications of high blood sugar occur even when your A1C average is 6 and above and the the ADA's recommendation of an A1C between 6 and 7 is still too high. With his eating plan and suggestions almost all people who follow it get their A1C in the 4's and 5 range.

Please visit Bernstein's website when you have the chance and see what you think.

Also steriods like Prednizone will definitely raise your blood sugar, he also talks about that on his website.

I wish you the best and all I can say is I think following his advise is the best thing I can ever do for myself. I'm so glad I did my own research instead of just following my Doc's suggestion of the ADA eating plan. He was literally amazed at my bloodwork 3 months later, and that I did it without meds.

[koopie57]

20. thanks .. I'll do that.

[GreenInNC]

16. I had a Gastric Bypass

I had one almost a year ago. I have gone from 389 to 255. I am 6'4". I did not have a problem with diabetes so I can't comment on that but my blood pressure is now normal without any medication.

My surgery went perfect. I was out of the hospital in 2 days and did not need any pain medication after the first day.

[w8liftinglady]

21. I had gastric bypass.My caveat-take your vitamins.

I am down from a size 24 to a size 8,but had some medical problems along the way.Developed a B1 deficiency,and almost lost my mind.I take daily B1 injections.It's worth it