While lifestyle changes are the first steps toward a healthy well-being, they might not be enough to skim off the extra weight for everyone. Over the recent years, bariatric surgery has garnered much talk among people suffering from morbid obesity. This innovative, but somewhat drastic “miracle weight-loss cure” sparks hopes for individuals living with the ravage of obesity.
According to a recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, bariatric surgery combined with intensive medical therapy resulted in better glycemic outcomes than intensive medical therapy alone.
The Study
This randomized, controlled, non-blinded study included 150 patients with type 2 diabetes and a BMI ranging from 27 to 43. In the end, only 134 patients completed the 5-year study. Patients were separated into three groups based on their treatment: intensive medical therapy alone, intensive medical therapy + gastric bypass, or intensive medical therapy + sleeve gastrectomy. This Surgical Treatment and Medications Eradicate Diabetes Efficiently (STAMPEDE) trial was sponsored by Ethicon, Lifescan, the Cleveland Clinic, and the National Health Institute (NIH).
Compared to the intensive medical therapy, bariatric surgery showed better improvement in various factors related to diabetes. In general, surgery has helped people to maintain optimal glycemic control, normal A1C levels, and lessen the dosage of their medication.
What to Gather
Patients must fulfill a list of established criteria to be accepted for bariatric surgery. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), this metabolic surgery is reserved for people with a BMI of 35 or over. While bariatric surgery might seem like the one-trick pony to solve weight issues and diabetes, efforts in adopting a healthy lifestyle following the procedure are required to maintain the benefits of the surgery. In order words, it’s pointless to have the surgery if you are just going to revert to your bad, old habits. Like any surgeries, side-effects may follow from this complicated procedure such as intestinal bleeding, malabsorption problems, and infection.
To learn more about the bariatric surgery, we invite you to visit the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases webpage by clicking here.
