What is Weight Loss Surgery?
Weight loss surgery options can help individuals lose weight and lower their risk of medical difficulties in the future. Weight loss surgery is something that makes changes to the digestive system to help an individual lose weight. This is done by restricting how much individuals can eat or by reducing nutrients absorbed by the intestines. Weight loss surgery is usually the route taken when individuals have tried diet and weight loss and it has not succeeded in losing enough weight. The general term for weight loss surgery is bariatric surgery although the most commonly practiced type of weight loss surgery is gastric bypass surgery. This is one of the types of weight loss surgery options that offers fewer complications than others, although all are major procedures that can cause serious risks. Here we’re going to discuss gastric bypass surgery as well as how weight loss surgery may improve type 2 diabetes.
Click here to see the first signs of type 2 diabetes.
Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is when changes are made to the stomach and small intestine that changes the way they absorb and digest food. Weight loss due to this surgery can be noted by:
- Limiting the amount of food that the stomach can hold
- Restricting the calories and nutrients that the body absorbs
- Changes hormones in the stomach allowing individuals to feel full longer and suppress the appetite
There are weight loss surgery options related to gastric bypass and they are:
- Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
- Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding
- Sleeve Gastrectomy
- Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch
The most common of these four types of gastric bypass surgeries is the Roux-en-Y option. It is performed by making the stomach the size of an egg and then dividing the small intestine. Those who decide to take part in a
gastric bypass surgery will notice that a month after surgery they will only be able to eat small amounts of soft foods and liquids but overtime will be able to add solid foods back into their diet. Feeling full will be much easier than before, and it will happen quickly, after eating roughly two tablespoons of food. It is predicted that those who go through with a gastric bypass surgery will lose one half to two-thirds of their excess body weight and it will most likely continue for another year before stabilizing.
If you believe that you may be interested in going through with a
gastric bypass surgery, speaking to a medical professional about your options can give you an idea whether it is something that you would like to do, or can do.
How Weight Loss Surgery May Improve Type 2 Diabetes
Studies have been performed evaluating individuals, both adults, and teens, who underwent weight loss surgery in order to study the remission from type 2 diabetes. Before this study, reported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, there had been no treatment that had shown long-term effectiveness at reversing type 2 diabetes. The findings of this study were remarkable:
- Teens with type 2 diabetes before surgery were 27% more likely to have controlled blood sugar levels without the use of medications post-surgery
- No teens were in need of diabetes medications post-surgery compared to 88% of them who did need medication before surgery.
- 795 of adults in the study used medication for diabetes before surgery and only 26% were in need of diabetes medication five years after surgery
- The teens who had high blood pressure prior to surgery were 51% more likely than the adults to no longer have high blood pressure or need medication for it.
Click here to find tips on how to manage type 2 diabetes.
Unfortunately, diabetes is a growing problem in adolescents and this study shows that individuals who undergo gastric bypass surgery may use it as treatment. This doesn’t mean that there are not any risks and any decisions for this type of surgery should be made after speaking with medical professionals and taking time to think about it.