Type 2 - gastro bypass?!
Question: My sister has had type 2 for a few years. It was not in the family, yet she is otherwise a candidate, due to weight, diet and exercise. She controled her diabetes with diet and medication. She has never had out of control blood sugars, and her diabetes is managed with minimal effort/medication.
Six months ago, she had a gastric bypass. Suddenly her medication was negatively affecting her blood sugars. As she reduced her medication, her BS stabalized. With her doctor's monitoring, she has been med-free for four months.
So I have two questions:
1.) I'm a parent to a type 1 child, and thought I was pretty fluent on diabetes. I haven't heard of this before and it made my jaw drop. Has anyone heard of a surgery ridding the body of diabetes (other than islet cell transplant or pancreas transplant)? Tell me your story/knowledge on the subject. Is it specific to type 2?
2.) What does this tell scientists and doctors about a cure? Does it put it more within reach?
Answers: My sister has had type 2 for a few years. It was not in the family, yet she is otherwise a candidate, due to weight, diet and exercise. She controled her diabetes with diet and medication. She has never had out of control blood sugars, and her diabetes is managed with minimal effort/medication.
Six months ago, she had a gastric bypass. Suddenly her medication was negatively affecting her blood sugars. As she reduced her medication, her BS stabalized. With her doctor's monitoring, she has been med-free for four months.
So I have two questions:
1.) I'm a parent to a type 1 child, and thought I was pretty fluent on diabetes. I haven't heard of this before and it made my jaw drop. Has anyone heard of a surgery ridding the body of diabetes (other than islet cell transplant or pancreas transplant)? Tell me your story/knowledge on the subject. Is it specific to type 2?
2.) What does this tell scientists and doctors about a cure? Does it put it more within reach?
Drs David Cummings and David Flum of the University of Washington wrote an editorial to the Journal of the American Medical Assoc. about the gastric bypass surgery usually cures Type ll in about 80 percent of the patients...also, it can eliminate having to take blood pressure meds. I have Type II and I will be having the GB 2-25-08. It is the Lifestyle change that takes place when you have GB.
No.
Your sister HAS type 2 diabetes. Her body was producing enough insulin for a normal person, but not for an overweight one. She was able to reduce her meds, but she must always take care and keep an eve on her sugar levels.
Sorry about your child , but type 1 diabetes is very different, and sadly, your child will be on an insulin regimen for the rest of their lives.
The GB is not a cure for diabetes by any means. Weight loss is one of the many tools for assisting in diabetes management
Gastric bypass surgery for weight reduction is a bit much, but certainly not unpopular, and has nothing to do with a cure for type 2 diabetes.(it should be contraindicated).
For weight loss, gastric ballon insertion or Fundoplication procedures are much less invasive, done through a gastroscope, and not frought with complications of food going directly from the stomach to the small bowel.
My dad had GB surgery, he is no longer diabetic, nor does he have high blood pressure or sleep apnea. I would have a GB if my insurance would pay for it.
I have seen GB and Lapband as a "cure" for diabetes. Of course your body and metabolism are now working in different ways and the need to control her diabetes with medication may be gone for now.