Weight-Loss Procedures Beneficial For Diabetes
New York Times , 29 June 2009
Latest researches show that weight-loss surgery brings cure to the obese patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. The results of the study carried by the American Diabetes Association examined 177 patients. Being very obese and having type 2 diabetes, they underwent gastric bypass surgery. As many as 57% of them got cured from the disease about eight years after the procedure.
Within a year after the procedure, as many as 90% of the patients were cured from the diabetes. Unfortunately, for many of them it didn’t last.
Dr. James Maher, surgeon from Virginia Commonwealth University, said that patients who were taking insulin before the weight-loss surgery were likely to experience the set-back of the disease. His suggestion is to undergo the procedure in early stage, before starting to take the medicine. Otherwise, the results might not last.
In another study carried out, 95 obese patients took part. They had gastric bypass surgery. Five years afterwards 40% of them were cured from diabetes and additional 43% saw improvements in their health.
Dr. Christine Ren from New York School of Medicine said that patients who lost more weight were more likely to be cured.
“The question is always not just ’Does the band work?’ but ’Does it work on helping diabetes, and is [the effect] sustained?’,” Dr. Ren said.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:36 am
My dad has type 2 diabetes. He manages diabetes through Diet and Exercise and alo by taking food supplements like Alpha Lipoic acid which helps in preventing nerve damage. He also takes Chromium which helps in the regulation of blood sugar.