Whilst there is no cure for type 2 diabetes, weight-loss surgery is often the best way to treat the condition.
It has been proven in a variety of studies across the world that bariatric surgery is the best way to treat diseases such as type 2 diabetes which is caused by obesity.
Patients who receive bariatric surgery often see rapid weight loss within the first 12-24 months of surgery. Each procedure creates different results, but the patients of all of the surgeries report a lower blood glucose level. The specific surgery which is performed will be different based on a patient’s circumstances.
Gastric bypass surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is the main surgery offered to treat type 2 diabetes. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures can combat type 2 diabetes by making a patient feel fuller after they eat, and causing them to absorb fewer calories as their stomach now has less space to hold food in. Whilst both parts of the stomach are still present, only one will actually hold food.
Your bariatric surgeon will then attach the lower part of the small intestine directly to the new stomach pouch, so food can bypass most of the stomach in addition to the upper part of the small intestine. This bypassed section will connect further down the small intestine. It is still attached to the main part of your stomach to allow for digestive juices to move from the bypassed areas.
This will assist in regulating a patient’s blood sugar level, as their sugar intake is lower than before. This procedure results in a pouch in the stomach is created, which bypasses a portion of the small intestine and most of the stomach.
The rerouting caused by gastric bypass surgery creates changes in gut hormones which leave you feeling full when you eat, suppress hunger, and lower blood glucose levels. This lower risk of hyperglycemia often results in a patient’s type 2 diabetes going into remission, thus lowering their blood sugar levels to a normal level.
Mini gastric bypass surgery
This surgery is similar to the roux-en-y gastric bypass, though it is a more simplified version of the procedure designed to give patients the same benefit in a safer manner. It is a procedure that is receiving more and more focus as a way to treat those who are both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent.
It is used as the lower amount of joins compared to a standard gastric bypass creates less chance of a leak or an internal hernia. It not only decreases the effects of type 2 diabetes, it also lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and can assist with symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Gastric sleeve surgery
This surgery, which is also known as a sleeve gastrectomy, involves the removal of a portion of the stomach. Whilst the amount of stomach removed varies from patient to patient, up to 75% of the stomach is removed. This new, banana-shaped stomach results in lower food intake, and creates changes in hormones like ghrelin, which controls a person’s hunger, and is reduced as a result of a gastric sleeve.
Weight loss surgery combinations
In his 20 years performing bariatric surgery in Perth, Dr. Kevin Dolan and the WALOS team have pioneered a range of combination surgeries, which combine elements of multiple surgeries. These include the SADI-S, SASI-S, and SIBS procedures.
Using elements of many other obesity surgery procedures including the gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and duodenal switch, these surgical procedures can give you the best result for your specific circumstances and help you lose weight in a sustainable manner.
Weight loss doctor in Perth
If you are suffering from type 2 diabetes or any other effects of obesity, Dr. Kevin Dolan and the WALOS team can help you establish a healthier lifestyle and lose any excess weight with a personalised solution that will benefit a patient in the long term. During his career, Dr. Dolan has consulted over 10,000 patients and assisted them in their weight-loss journeys.
To gain a further understanding of the range of weight loss surgeries offered by Dr. Dolan, please visit our procedures page.
To arrange a consultation with Perth’s leading bariatric surgeon, contact us today.