New hope for Diabetes??

[StephenB]

I am not diabetic, but I've had relatives and friends who have suffered with this, and lost my cousin to it a few years back. This story was encouraging....

Obesity surgery seen as diabetes cure on Yahoo! Health

[roni]

Originally Posted by StephenB

I am not diabetic, but I've had relatives and friends who have suffered with this, and lost my cousin to it a few years back. This story was encouraging....

Obesity surgery seen as diabetes cure on Yahoo! Health

I saw the story last night. It could be great news for those morbidly obese with Type 2 Diabetes. For those of us who are not way obese....

Experts generally agree that weight-loss surgery would never be appropriate for diabetics who are not obese, and current federal guidelines restrict the surgery to obese people.

Hopeful news nonetheless

[StephenB]

Originally Posted by roni

I saw the story last night. It could be great news for those morbidly obese with Type 2 Diabetes. For those of us who are not way obese....

Experts generally agree that weight-loss surgery would never be appropriate for diabetics who are not obese, and current federal guidelines restrict the surgery to obese people.

Hopeful news nonetheless

Yeah...the story was not specific about how obese you have to be. I was impressed by the fact that some people seemed to benefit in just a few days (cured)? I am not up on the science, but doesn't this seem to be a disease which targets obese or substantially overweight people as opposed to thinner folks?

[roni]

Originally Posted by StephenB

Yeah...the story was not specific about how obese you have to be. I was impressed by the fact that some people seemed to benefit in just a few days (cured)? I am not up on the science, but doesn't this seem to be a disease which targets obese or substantially overweight people as opposed to thinner folks?

Yes, according to some reports 80% of adult onset Type 2 diabetes (now also teen-age onset) diabetes happens in people who are overweight. I do not have any idea what proportion of overweight people have diabetes, however.

The link seems to be insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetics produce insulin, but it is not used effectively.

The think with the surgery, though, in the USA, is that you have got to be more than just technically obese (generally) to get the surgery. You have got to be way, way obese and have the money to pay for it, as many insurance companies apparently aren't thrilled to pay for it. My friends re-financed their home to pay for it.

[BonnyW]

As Ron alluded, this is a preliminary study that works in obese people. Most type 2 diabetics are overweight. So this only works for a small group of people.

Any surgery is risky in obese people. Their organs are still the same size as non-obese people, and they require much more anesthesia. Anesthesia amounts are determined by weight.

It is not a 'cure' as the article states, but may reverse the disease at least temporarily. More studies are needed... The problem with the surgery is that it is only 50% effective over 5 years.

So, that suggests a fitness and dietary component should also be used, as well as meds--Oral glycemic agents.