Surgery for Diabetes or Metabolic surgery: Can it be a cure for diabetes?

The medicine has to be taken every day and the injections do not leave the chase. One has to start the day with Molly tea-coffee. How to control diabetes despite trying all the remedies have failed. But now science is ready to add more sweetness to your life, if you suffer from a certain type of diabetes. With the help of surgery, some diabetic patients can get rid of drugs and injections.

Can diabetes be cured?

One has to stay away from healthful vasanas in winters, honeydew mango juice in summers, and sweets in monsoons, ice creams throughout the year. Even if you feel like eating, you feel like you are eating by counting and measuring. This fast has to be done for life. If diet is not followed, some adverse consequences can make life more difficult. But now a new discovery in medical science is able to get rid of type-2 diabetes and permanently with drugs and injections.

Those who have recently developed diabetes, have an unhealthy lifestyle and are overweight, those who do not have inherited diabetes and have a well-functioning pancreas can achieve good health simply by losing weight and strictly following a healthy lifestyle.

Patients who are obese and have had diabetes for a few years can expect to completely stop taking medications after bariatric surgery. But you should consult a bariatric surgeon to know what to expect in your case and for a proper examination. Diabetes improvement after bariatric surgery depends on your age, BMI, pancreatic endocrine function and genetic influences.

After starting a healthy lifestyle, some patients stop taking medications on their own and believe that changing their lifestyle will cure diabetes. But not everyone with such a profile can stay away from drugs and if stopped without doctor's advice, it is dangerous for health. It is necessary to monitor blood sugar regularly under the guidance of a doctor.

Read More - How Bariatric Surgery Can Help Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?

What is the difference between bariatric and metabolic surgery?

Bariatric and metabolic surgery are technically similar, with some minor differences depending on the patient's profile and needs. Both are laparoscopic surgeries performed on the stomach and intestines. Both have a profound effect on the body's hormones and metabolism. Bariatric surgery is performed on obese patients with the primary objective of weight loss, which leads to improvement in diabetes. The ultimate goal of weight loss is to improve obesity-related diseases.

On the other hand, metabolic surgery is performed on obese patients. Amelioration of diabetes is the primary goal. Often the surgeries are technically the same, but different terms are used depending on the primary goal of the surgery. Often minor changes are made to the surgery to achieve better diabetes control results and avoid some complications.

Who should treat diabetes with surgery?

Surgery is a very good treatment option, but it is not the ideal option for everyone. The type of diabetes should also be considered. If you fall into the below mentioned category then you should know details about bariatric or metabolic surgery.

Abnormal obesity: - You are morbidly obese, meaning your BMI is greater than 332.5 and you have diabetes with or without other obesity-related diseases. This surgery is generally more desirable for individuals with a BMI >37.5, even if they do not have diabetes or any other obesity-related disease.

Diabetes with obesity and uncontrolled despite taking oral medications: - Bariatric surgery is an option for individuals with a BMI greater than 32.5 and whose diabetes remains uncontrolled despite medication. Poor glycaemic control indicates that various internal organs of your body are constantly being damaged. This loss may not be apparent at present but is likely to lead to organ failure. It could be a heart attack, kidney failure, liver damage, vision loss, or gangrene in the legs.

Uncontrolled diabetes despite not being obese and taking insulin: - Diabetics who have uncontrolled diabetes despite taking insulin injections may consider surgery, even if their BMI is in the normal range of 27.5-32.5. Such surgery is performed not primarily for weight loss but with the aim of glycaemic control. Such surgery is considered as metabolic surgery.

Factors predicting surgical outcome/improvement in diabetes

duration of diabetes: -

The shorter the duration of diabetes, the more likely you will be able to stop medications after surgery. Poor blood sugar control, especially in obese patients, is due to greater insulin sensitivity. If the surgery is done while the pancreas is still healthy, we can prevent the damage to the pancreas in the beginning.

Insulin requirement and uncontrolled diabetes: -

Despite taking oral medications and requiring insulin, it indicates that the beta-cell reserve of the pancreas is poor. Such patients are likely to benefit from surgery. Diabetes can be controlled after surgery only with oral medications ie without insulin. Or for those who need a lot of insulin and whose blood sugar remains uncontrolled despite taking insulin, surgery can control blood sugar by reducing the need for insulin.

It may seem that surgery is less beneficial in this type of diabetes. Actually, such patients can benefit in 2 ways. One, the need for oral medication and insulin may be reduced. Second, we can prevent organ failure caused by uncontrolled blood sugar. If this surgery is done on time, other organs of the body can be kept functioning for life.

Heredity and autoimmune factors

Hereditary and autoimmune factors suggest that the vulnerability of your pancreatic beta cells may increase over time. If bariatric-metabolic surgery is done in time, it can be more effective in halting weight loss. Compared to medical therapy alone, surgery has better results in terms of sugar control and prevention of organ failure.

Pancreatic reserve/C peptide levels

C peptide levels are indicative of pancreatic reserve. Elevated peptide levels are also often done to check for increased levels of C-peptide after ingestion of ingested food. Your doctor can predict results in diabetes control after surgery from these tests.

If you are someone who could benefit from this surgery, you should meet with a bariatric and metabolic surgeon to better understand the surgery and discuss any concerns you may have. You should know what the possible outcomes are in your case, what the short- and long-term benefits are, and what the risks are to you. This information will help you live a healthier life. Contact AnshObecure today and get a consultation from Dr. Apurva Vyas.