A new study has found that the symptoms of type 2 diabetes could be stopped with the help of gastric bypass surgery.
In a trial conducted as part of the study, 75 per cent of obese patients who underwent the gastric bypass procedure went into remission within a year of surgery. Additionally, according to long-term follow-ups, 73 per cent of the remission patients were found to be diabetes-free after five years. For anyone suffering from both obesity and type 2 diabetes, this study may be particularly interesting. Read on to find out more about the findings …
How did the study work?
The study was made up of 1,111 participants, all of whom had type 2 diabetes and were treated for obesity by means of a gastric bypass procedure. The study was performed in Denmark between 2006 and 2015. Each of the participants had the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure.
After undergoing the gastric bypass surgery, the patients were compared with another group of people with diabetes who had not been for weight-loss surgery.
What did the study find?
When the group of participants who underwent surgery were compared with the group who had not been for gastric bypass, it was revealed that during the first six months following surgery, 65 per cent of the gastric bypass patients went into remission. After a year, this figure rose to 74 per cent. The study, which was performed by scientists at the Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark and published in the journal Diabetologia, adds to the growing body of evidence that suggests that weight-loss surgery can help to reduce and stop the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
What is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass?
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is a procedure in which the size of a patient’s stomach is decreased so that only small portions of food can be consumed. Furthermore, part of the intestines is bypassed, which means that less calories are absorbed by the body.
If you are morbidly obese, the treatment may be a good option for you. Patients can expect to lose between 70 and 80 per cent of their excess body weight within the first two years following the procedure. In fact, there are a number of benefits to choosing this particular weight loss surgery — because the procedure is performed laparoscopically, it is less invasive than traditional open surgery, reducing the amount of scarring and ensuring a quick recovery.
To find out what a gastric bypass procedure involves, how to prepare for it, and what you can expect afterwards, read more here.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, we recommend that you come in for a consultation with Dr Kevin Dolan. This will allow him to explain all of your treatment options and ensure that you understand all the necessary information. You will also have the opportunity to meet our team, who will support you throughout the process.
To make an appointment, please get in touch here.