[bryan42]

Last night on 60 minutes, they had a report on about 12 people who had gastric bypass surgery, and they all had type 2 diabetes BEFORE surgery, and after the surgery, they ALL had experienced their diabetes go into remission. They didnt use the word "cure", which I was glad about (made the report seem more believable). All of the patients, no longer take diabetes medicine. The doctors actually discovered (using a rat), that it has something to do with disconnecting the lower bowel, as part of that surgery, that stops diabetes. It was a very good report, I wish I could have let all of you know, that didnt see it, but that would have been too many phone calls!

[fgummett]

Yes, I have read studies that show the same pattern of improvement immediately after surgery and before any weight loss. It helps to show that type 2 diabetes is far more complex than the commonly held belief that it is just to do with obesity... they don't really know why the gastric bypass works but it clearly does.

[sugardumplin]

So are you saying that even though I am not obese, but am a Type II, and if I had a gastric bypass, I could nearly get rid of diabetes diagnosis? So diabetes has something to do with the lower bowel rather than something else? Just curious...

[bryan42]

Originally Posted by sugardumplin

So are you saying that even though I am not obese, but am a Type II, and if I had a gastric bypass, I could nearly get rid of diabetes diagnosis? So diabetes has something to do with the lower bowel rather than something else? Just curious...

Yes, thats what they were saying. BUT, the one big issue is, the government passed a law 12 years ago, stating that you can ONLY get the gastric bypass surgery, as a last resort. But, the doctor on 60 minutes, said that law is old and needs to be changed, because of the big improvements made in recent years on this surgery. It used to be 1 in 100 died from complications of this surgery, but now they have improved it to 1 in 1200 (not very good odds, if you ask me).

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by bryan42

Yes, thats what they were saying. BUT, the one big issue is, the government passed a law 12 years ago, stating that you can ONLY get the gastric bypass surgery, as a last resort. But, the doctor on 60 minutes, said that law is old and needs to be changed, because of the big improvements made in recent years on this surgery. It used to be 1 in 100 died from complications of this surgery, but now they have improved it to 1 in 1200 (not very good odds, if you ask me).

Sounds to me like insurance would jump on covering that for them. If you die they no longer have to pay benefits for you and if you live and it works, they no longer have to pay for benefits. Win win for the insurance company. LOL

[notme]

I know there are several long term effects of having gastric bypass. Would you just be trading one set of problems for another?

[Mich]

It was an interesting program. They discovered that when they did the gastric bypass, attaching the small portion of the upper stomach to the upper portion of the lower intestine, the type 2 diabetes instantly went into remission. There was some unknown effect on the portion of the digestive tract that was left out of the loop--specifically the upper upper portion of the small intestine.

Having a friend who has lived for many years with an ileostomy, I know that certain vitamins are absorbed by only a certain part of the small intestine and he must supplement them by other means. Perhaps one part of the intestine triggers insulin response by some unknown process.

It would be wonderful if this would send researchers on a new road to finding out what actually causes type II rather than just how to treat the effects. Not to mention the cancer risk reduction this process also produced.

Here's the 60 minutes link:

The Bypass Effect On Diabetes, Cancer, Surgery Can Send Diabetes Into Remission, And May Reduce Risk Of Certain Cancers - CBS News

[Scrabblechick]

I saw the show and was actually going to do a thread on it. LOL. The part of the intestine that is bypassed is the duodenum, which is in the upper part of the small intestine.

Actually, many insurance companies will cover the surgery, without it being a "last resort" if the patient also has Type 2. Mine will.

Instant remission of the diabetes sounds like heaven on earth, but as Nancy noted, sometimes you're trading one set of problems for another. Lowering of the cancer risk sounds wonderful, too, but there's no getting around the fact that this is MAJOR surgery.

I've been turning it over in my mind and still haven't come up with a decision on whether to approach my endo about it or not.

The other thing that impressed me about this program is that many of these patients were followed for 10-15 years, which certainly gives a better idea of the long-term benefits and possiblity of permanent remission than following someone for just a year or two.

[Ashtur]

My cynicism alarm is going full blast on this one.

A 60 Minutes report does not a cure make.

In any case, like Mich, what I'd truly hope for is that this leads scientists to figure out why this is helping so much, and then use that as a focus for a real cure.

[fgummett]

There is plenty to read on the subject here in the Annals of Surgery...

As for being a major operation, it is my understanding that this is now performed laparoscopically (sic?)

[Scrabblechick]

It is normally done laparoscopically. For some people. Some still have the footlong breastbone to navel incision. Ugh.

As I said, I'm still weighing all my options. While this looks extremely promising, I mean, I have to restrict my food now. What about having a 2-ounce stomach pouch? Granted, I could eat a cookie and not worry about it, but cookies aren't exactly on the post surgery list. And drinking liquids slowly 60 minutes before eating. The risk of malnutrition, hernia, etc. I'm not much of a risk-taker anyway, so what is the risk/benefit analysis here?

As Mich said, I'd love to see something come out of this that will help researchers get to the heart of the disease and find a real cure!

[fgummett]

I believe there is already a study which uses just a part of this surgery and leaves the stomach intact... wasn't there a thread about this recently in here? As I recall the focus was on newly diagnosed type 2 but with a lowish BMI so I assume they were not at the weight loss as part of the cure.

[Scrabblechick]

Hmm. Well, maybe I can lose my weight, as I'm doing now, then get the "partial" surgery! Wonder if that works??

[kackigrl79]

I had gastric bypass surgery in Feb. I'm down nearly 70 lbs in 3 months. The day I left the hospital I no longer needed my medication. It took a long time to decide to have this surgery but I'm so glad I did. My father died at the age of 41 from complications of diabetes and I was headed that way. Any surgery is risky but I haven't had any complications within hours after surgery I was feeling great and with in 3 days I was back to normal except for a liquid diet for 2 weeks. At 3 months out I could basically eat what I want except for sugar but I don't crave the foods I use to. Now I just focus getting my protien in. The only thing I need is to remember to take my vitamin on a daily basis.

[fgummett]

Thanks for sharing that kackigrl79. What I really want to know is if you still get hungry all the time (assuming you were before the surgery)..?
I'm already taking a daily multi-vitamin on the advice of my ophthalmologist so that would be no hardship... but it sure would be nice to no longer take insulin, plus the blood pressure and cholesterol meds