Diabetes Surgery (Metabolic surgery)

Diabetes Surgery (metabolic surgery) is the Obesity surgery or weight loss surgery that is performed in obese patients who have type II diabetes.

Diabetes Surgery can be considered in:

  • Patients with Type 2 diabetes who have consistently failed to lose weight beyond a point using conventional weight loss methods (dietary restriction, increased exercise and physical activity, and medication)
  • Patients with BMI (body mass index = Weight/ height2) over 32.5kg/m2 with Type 2 diabetes

In the recent years, studies have shown that obesity surgery can improve or even cure diabetes. It was seen that obese patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent surgery for weight loss had a marked improvement in diabetes after surgery. Studies have now shown that substantial and long-term weight loss after Diabetes surgery causes resolution of diabetes and increases the lifespan. Diabetes can be resolved completely or can become less dramatic. Around one-third of the patients who undergo surgery have resolution of Diabetes Mellitus immediately after the surgery. They may not need medicine for diabetes. In another one-third of the patients the diabetes usually resolves within three months. They may not require anti diabetic medicines after a few months. Last one-third of diabetics after surgery may continue to be diabetic but their blood sugar levels and dosage of anti diabetic medicines falls drastically. The lifespan of these patients is also increased. The chances of resolution of diabetes are high in patients who have had diabetes for less than 10 years.

Diabetes surgery (metabolic surgery) is being performed in India for nearly a decade. The surgery involves re-alignment of the stomach and intestines in such a manner that the size of the stomach reduces, thereby causing less hunger and earlier satiety. The Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass/ Mini Gastric bypass and Sleeve gastrectomy are two popular bariatric procedure categories. These procedures are being performed laparoscopically (key-hole surgery) and the patients can have the benefits of faster recovery, small scar, less pain and early return to routine activities.