Weight Loss and Diabetes

Diabetes patients find hope in bariatric surgery

Blood- monitor For people with Type 2 diabetes who are also obese, bariatric surgery may offer much more than significant weight loss.

Two new studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that weight loss surgery patients were far more likely to achieve normal blood sugar levels than those on blood sugar-controlling medication alone.

The results were almost immediate, with some patients able to stop their insulin injections as soon as three days after surgery.

See Dr. Yancy's WVEC TV interview here.

In Chesapeake, surgeons have seen the same improvements in their bariatric patients. "I dryancey operated on a patient last week who was morbidly obese and diabetic. Five days after surgery, he called to let me know that his blood sugars had normalized and he is on half the amount of insulin he was on last week," said Dr. Eric Yancey, bariatric surgeon and medical director of the Weight Loss Program at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center.

While the results of these studies are dramatic, they come as no surprise to Chesapeake Regional's bariatric surgeons. "For years, the bariatric surgery community has seen an 80-90 percent success rate of reversing Type 2 diabetes in patients," said Yancey.

drchastanet "With gastric bypass surgery, most people go home two days after surgery and don't need their diabetes medication anymore" said Dr. Robert Chastanet, a Chesapeake Regional bariatric surgeon who practices with Chesapeake Weight Loss Consultants, PLLC.

Patients who have had diabetes for 10 years or less and do not yet require insulin often have the best chance of no longer needing any diabetes medication following bariatric surgery. "The important message here is the earlier the better when considering bariatric surgery as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes," said Chastanet. High-dose insulin-requiring patients will generally need less medication following surgery, but complete remission may not be possible.

Weight loss surgery is part of a comprehensive approach

In addition to early treatment, post-surgical weight loss is also a major key to success. "People who regain the weight may redevelop diabetes," cautioned Chastanet. "There is a direct correlation between patients maintaining their weight and avoiding diabetes," agreed Yancey.

For those who make those changes, however, the results are impressive. In one of the recent studies, 60 patients were given one of two types of weight loss surgery or diabetes medicine alone. Two years after surgery, 95 percent and 75 percent of the two surgery groups not only achieved, but maintained, the target blood-sugar levels.

Despite encouraging statistics, bariatric surgery is not for everyone and is not intended as a "quick fix" for diabetes. "People who jump into surgery without having realistic goals and expectations tend to have a greater failure rate," Yancey cautioned.

In addition to diabetes management, potential bariatric surgery patients must meet certain requirements, including having a body mass index of 35 or greater, attending pre- and post-surgical counseling, and passing a psychological evaluation.

"In my mind, the ideal patient is someone who is tired of having to wear the label of Type 2 diabetes," said Yancey. "Someone who is tired of having to monitor their blood sugar and inject themselves with insulin tends to have a much better understanding of the surgery's abilities and limitations than someone who wants the surgery simply for cosmetic reasons," he added.

Other options - nutrition choices that work

For those who do not qualify or are not yet ready to have the surgery, other options exist. , a comprehensive, medically supervised weight loss program, offers patients a non-surgical alternative to weight loss. Participants are given meal plans tailored to their specific calorie needs, keep food journals and attend regular support groups.

Additional diabetes support

In addition to weight loss support, Chesapeake Regional also offers complete diabetes care for children and adults. From Diabetes University to gestational diabetes support, the diabetes program can be customized to meet any patient's needs.

Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. About 50 percent of men and 70 percent of women who have the disease are obese. Effectively managing the disease is crucial to patients' health and wellness. If you or someone you know might benefit from bariatric surgery, call 757-312-3000 for more information or to attend a free information session. Click here to submit a request using the online form.

A Center of Excellence

Named a "Center of Excellence" by the American College of Surgeons, Chesapeake Regional's Bariatric Surgery Program offers a comprehensive range of pre- and post-operative education, support and outreach in weight loss surgeries.

The Diabetes Education Program at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center has earned Recognition Status by the American Diabetes Association since 1994. For information about individual counseling or group classes, call 757-312-6132.

See the story on WVEC.com