Weight-loss surgery banishes symptoms of diabetes

Published on Thursday 27 August 2009 21:58

WEIGHT-LOSS surgery eliminates diabetic symptoms in eight out of ten patients, a large study has found.

A review of more than 600 studies involving more than 135,000 people found that surgery dramatically cut the number of patients displaying obvious signs of type 2 diabetes, or improved their condition.

Bariatric, or weight-loss, surgery includes gastric bypass, gastric banding and stomach stapling. However, the charity Diabetes UK warned such procedures do not offer a "cure" for type 2 diabetes.

The study, in the American Journal of Medicine, was led by Henry Buchwald, from the University of Minnesota in the United States.

It was presented yesterday at a conference of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders in Paris.

In the study, patients lost an average of 38.5kg after surgery, or 55.9 per cent of their excess weight. This was maintained for two years or more.

The researchers said: "Overall, 78.1 per cent of diabetic patients had complete resolution, and diabetes was improved or resolved in 86.6 per cent of patients.

"Weight-loss and diabetes resolution were greatest for patients having biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch."

There are 2.25 million people with Type 2 diabetes in the UK. Another 500,000 are undiagnosed.

Zoe Harrison, care adviser at Diabetes UK, said of the study: "Although the data presented shows good results from bariatric surgery, it must be remembered that any surgery carries serious risks.

"Bariatric surgery should only be considered as a last resort."