How Does Bariatric Surgery Reverse Diabetes?

How Bariatric Surgery Can Reverse Diabetes and Improve Overall Health

Obesity is the root cause of diverse diseases such as Asthma, sleep apnea, cardiovascular problems, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, joint pains and most important some forms of cancers.

Obesity increases insulin resistance in the body leading to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and also results in Metabolic Syndrome.

There are various ways to deal with these problems which include changes in lifestyle and modification in the eating habits and use of certain drugs. But almost all of the studies conducted have come to the conclusion that these therapies are not effective in providing sustained weight loss. Bariatric surgery has been the most effective treatment option till date which results in effective and sustained weight loss along with resolution of the other problems associated with obesity.

There are various bariatric and metabolic surgical procedures available which can be done by Laparoscopic Techniques as well as with Robotic assistance. They include Sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, Mini Gastric Bypass, Ileal Interposition, Duodeno-Jejunal Bypass, and so on.

Mechanism of resolution of Diabetes Mellitus:

The intestine is now considered as a metabolic organ and this new insight can be utilized for the treatment of Diabetes. Bariatric and metabolic surgery leads to changes in the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in the treatment of obesity and diabetes mellitus.

Reason Behind How Bariatric Surgery Reverse Diabetes?

The quick lowering of blood sugar after bariatric surgery is due to hormonal changes after re-routing of the small intestine and not purely do the restriction of the calorie intake. It has been proposed and proved that after bariatric surgery there is an augmented release of certain hormones like GLP-1 and PYY from the small intestine that leads to improvement in the high blood sugar levels. These hormones not only decrease the cellular resistance to insulin, they also increase the efficiency of insulin. There is also decreased production of glucose from the liver due to their effects.

After surgery, long-term follow-up for the best results is a must. It’s a complete lifestyle change. One must follow instructions carefully for optimum results.There are absolute guidelines decided by the international diabetes federation for the selection of patients who can be benefitted from surgery.

These surgeries must be done at the best bariatric and metabolic surgical centers doing these surgeries routinely and under expert care and experienced hands. Although hospital stay remains from 2 to 3 days, a strict and regular follow-up is a must.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) with Bariatric Surgery: Anna’s Story and Key Measures

Yesterday I had a surprise visit from my childhood friend Anna. Two years have passed since the day Anna had a close brush with death. Her story, in her own words, goes like this.

‘’I woke up with a start around 3 am, with heaviness in my chest. I sat up and noticed my heart was racing, I could hear it thumping, and it was becoming harder for me to breathe. Then, I stood up and started to walk, but after a few steps, I was dizzy and was back on my bed. Now my heart was racing even faster. I lied down wondering what was happening to me, I picked up my mobile and thought of calling emergency. My husband was out for an offsite and my two children were asleep, I hesitated, decided to wait, and went back to sleep.

I woke up again hours later with breathlessness and chest pain. Then I called my primary doctor’s office and spoke to her nurse. Her triage questions saved my life, she said,” You might have a blood clot in your lungs”. Suddenly I remembered that I had undergone knee surgery for fracture three weeks back. She asked me to rush to the ER. At the ER a nurse took my pulse and hooked me up to IV line and cardiac monitor. I felt so relieved when I received oxygen.

My doctor came in and ordered a CT scan of the chest, and the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was confirmed. I was shifted to the intensive care unit, further tests confirmed a blood clot in my legs. My husband rushed back and he was informed that I needed surgery to have an IVC filter to prevent more clots in my legs from moving in my heart. I was given clot-dissolving medications. And I came back home 6 days later”.

I am now on blood thinners, maybe for life. And I have to wear my compression stockings all the time. I got my IVC filter removed after 6 months.

DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and PE was a huge emotional setback for me, it took me many months to come out of it.

MEASURES TO PREVENT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) DVT/PE are:

Quit smoking
Exercise regularly
Using compression stockings
Lose weight
Avoid long periods of physical inactivity
During long flights, walk up the aisle every hour, and drink plenty of fluids.

Looking for a bariatric surgeon in Delhi for weight loss surgery to prevent DVT? Schedule an appointment with us at Smart Cliniqs.