Study: Gastric Bypass Procedure Reverses Type 2 Diabetes

[Karee 4,190]

A new study at the Cleveland Clinic shows that bariatric surgery reverses Type 2 diabetes 90 percent of the time, meaning patients have normal blood sugar levels, sometimes immediately afterwards, and they no longer have to take insulin or other medications to control the illness.

Marla Evans enjoys playing with her granddaughter. Eight years ago, Evans had Type 2 diabetes. That was before she underwent gastric bypass surgery. Since then, she has shed 36 kilograms.

Evans participated in a study led by Dr. Philip Schauer at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, who wanted to see if the surgery could help patients with diabetes.

"This disease over time can be very debilitating, causing blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart attack and stroke if it’s not well treated," he said.

High blood sugar levels are the hallmark of diabetes. A few years ago, Schauer published the initial results of the study. He found that the stomach-shrinking surgery reversed Type 2 diabetes. The latest results are the same.

"This is very important because it shows that the effect of surgery in lowering blood sugar is durable out to three years. It's not just a short-term effect," said Schauer.

Bariatric surgery is an umbrella term for different surgeries that make the stomach smaller. In the most common procedure, the surgeon cuts across the top of the stomach to create a small pouch about the size of a walnut. Food bypasses most of the stomach and enters directly into the small intestine.

Afterward, patients have to change their lifestyles and stick with a diet that Evans said was sometimes difficult to adjust to, but worth the effort.

“I like the size I am. I like everything that came out of the surgery. It’s a blessing that you don’t have to take medicine, that you are healthier, that you feel good, that you look fantastic.”

The surgery is expensive, but as Schauer said, so is treating diabetes and all its complications.

"So in that regard, I think that surgery will factor in as a viable and efficient and economically advantageous treatment," he said.

Schauer also found that patients who had the surgery had better blood pressure results, and they could reduce the amount of medicine they used to control it. In addition, they had better cholesterol levels and were generally healthier. Evans prepares her own food, and eats far less than before. When Evans thinks about her old lifestyle, she said she misses ice cream. But as for the rest?

"No," she said with a laugh, "absolutely not. I have energy. I have a new life. I am not a diabetic any more."

Schauer said that with the steep increases in obesity and diabetes around the world, bariatric surgery will become more common even outside of Western countries.

Source:

http://www.voanews.com/content/study-gastric-bypass-procedure-reverses-type-2-diabetes/1883002.html

[Karee 4,190]

Sitting here thinking about this, it seems like a good financial decision for insurance companies to pay for this surgery. However, as people change jobs, their insurance company changes. I could see someone working at a company where insurance company A provides coverage. Insurance company A does not want to pay for it because it's expensive. If Insurance company A does pay for it, and the employee leaves 6 months later and goes to work for another company, then that company's insurer (Insurance company B) reaps the cost benefit of not having to pay for diabetes medication etc.

Unless I'm missing something, this seems like a good reason to have some sort of single payer system where everyone pays into the same pool. I personally think that would be a good idea, except the U.S. govt. would find a way to #### it up. It would be good to have some independent agency without being interfered with politically (if that's even possible) run it.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If you have a gastric bypass you will probably need some subsequent cosmetic surgery. Unless you enjoy wearing a human squirrel suit.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

A new study at the Cleveland Clinic shows that bariatric surgery reverses Type 2 diabetes 90 percent of the time,

Duh! They call it "diabesity" for a reason.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Here's a blurb about a surgery technique developed by a Brazilian doctor to reverse Type 2 diabetes. I can't find the link where I originally read about it. I actually met someone a few years back who was going back to Brazil to have this surgery. He spent a couple of years here in the US working 7 days a week to save money for the operation.

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/advertising/9744-new-surgical-procedure-for-type-2-diabetes-shows-a-95-remission

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

USE OF CONTENT AND Copyright

Personal Use: The content appearing on the VOA News and Information Websites is intended for your personal, noncommercial use only. You may download the downloadable content items appearing on the VOA News and Information Websites for your personal use only.

http://www.voanews.com/info/terms_of_use_privacy_policy/1363.html

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

USE OF CONTENT AND Copyright

Personal Use: The content appearing on the VOA News and Information Websites is intended for your personal, noncommercial use only. You may download the downloadable content items appearing on the VOA News and Information Websites for your personal use only.

http://www.voanews.com/info/terms_of_use_privacy_policy/1363.html

Hello Bill,

Why the disclaimer?

[Peikko 1,575]

Did I read this wrong but isn't it the weight loss that reversed type 2 diabetes as apposed to reducing your stomach size the size of a walnut? Sure, if there is no other alternative for your weight loss, go for surgery but surgery is not really the best answer, the best answer is to lose weight in a more natural way, reduce your food intake, increase your walking and don't sit down for significant periods of time without walking around.

[Karee 4,190]

Did I read this wrong but isn't it the weight loss that reversed type 2 diabetes as apposed to reducing your stomach size the size of a walnut? Sure, if there is no other alternative for your weight loss, go for surgery but surgery is not really the best answer, the best answer is to lose weight in a more natural way, reduce your food intake, increase your walking and don't sit down for significant periods of time without walking around.

I guess people are too lazy to do it the hard way. Why spend a year running on a tread mill, when you could just go under the knife for a few hours?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hello Bill,

Why the disclaimer?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/481545-visajourney-is-a-family-friendly-site-please-post-accordingly/#entry6831266

Hello,

I'd like to remind the community that VisaJourney is a family friendly site and everyone's posting should fall within those limits. While we have a Terms of Service that outlines this, I wanted to remind the community that certain items including copyrighted material, pornography or sexual content (even suggestive photos) is not allowed. Posting items such as this will result in immediate removal of the content by a moderator including a suspension of the offender member.

Thank you for helping to keep VisaJourney a strong and welcome community for everyone.

Captain Ewok

VJ Admin

BOLD my emphasis.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Unless I'm missing something, this seems like a good reason to have some sort of single payer system where everyone pays into the same pool. I personally think that would be a good idea, except the U.S. govt. would find a way to #### it up. It would be good to have some independent agency without being interfered with politically (if that's even possible) run it.

Do you really believe the US government is any more inept or corrupt than the governments of countries that successfully run single-payer healthcare?

I don't.

[mota bhai 2,675]

My preferred solution at this point is to bring back a modified draft. No exemptions, no exceptions, but you only have to put in 6 months right after high school and then you're free to go. And in return, you get Medicare for life.

We'll have single payer and our young people will care about the country they live in again. Win-win for everyone except the anarchist libertarians and the left-wing lovetard hippies.

[Karee 4,190]

Do you really believe the US government is any more inept or corrupt than the governments of countries that successfully run single-payer healthcare?

I don't.

Maybe not as corrupt, but definitely as inept, if not more. The whole health care thing is mostly political. It has little to do with health care IMO. I'm sitting here racking my brain trying to think of any monumental legislation that has been passed and signed into law in recent memory. Besides this health care thing, I'm drawing a blank. The only thing that comes to mind is the endless stop gap funding measures and the token spending cuts that go along with them that are stopping the U.S. from defaulting on it's obligations

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Do you really believe the US government is any more inept or corrupt than the governments of countries that successfully run single-payer healthcare?

I don't.

That's the funny part. Many Americans will claim America to be the greatest country on earth and then also claim that Americans have managed to built the most inept government of all times and places. It's friggin' hilarious.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Mr. Big Dog

[mota bhai 2,675]

Maybe not as corrupt, but definitely as inept, if not more. The whole health care thing is mostly political. It has little to do with health care IMO. I'm sitting here racking my brain trying to think of any monumental legislation that has been passed and signed into law in recent memory. Besides this health care thing, I'm drawing a blank. The only thing that comes to mind is the endless stop gap funding measures and the token spending cuts that go along with them that are stopping the U.S. from defaulting on it's obligations

The bailouts were pretty monumental, however you feel about them.

And there's this:

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Non-Intercourse Act of 2013

Authorizes the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Minnesota to lease, sell, convey, warrant, or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its interest in any real property that is not held in trust by the United States for the Band's benefit.