Diabetes and Weight Loss Surgery: A Powerful Combination
June 23, 2024
Categories: Bariatric Surgery, Health and Wellness
Diabetes is a complex disease that manifests itself at different times and for different reasons. Some people are born with Type I diabetes. Others develop Type II diabetes over time. Sometimes genetics contribute to the disease, while at other times weight plays a role. When insulin resistance rises as a result of higher body weight, bariatric surgery may be the right solution to reduce reliance on medications or put diabetes in remission.
“The sooner we can perform bariatric surgery on a qualified patient who receives a diabetes diagnosis, the larger impact the surgery will have,” says Mark Jonker, MD, Trinity Health IHA Medical Group - Bariatric Surgery. “Our best outcomes occur when we are less than 7-8 years into the diabetes diagnosis.”
The very best outcome puts diabetes into remission, meaning that the patient can control diabetes with diet and exercise alone. The next best outcome is to reduce reliance on oral medications and/or insulin. “When bariatric surgery is done within that 7-8 year window after diagnosis, approximately 70% of patients will experience diabetes remission and nearly all will have a reduction in medication usage with some results varying by operation type” Dr. Jonker continues.
What happens if surgery comes outside that ideal timeframe? “Patients will still see significant improvements in diabetes control and overall health with bariatric surgery. However, it is most ideal to address health issues related to obesity early on to achieve the best results” notes Dr. Jonker. “Reaching a healthy weight is simply better for your body. You improve the health of your organs and joints and improve your longevity. Overall people experience improved quality of life as well.”
Insurance companies have also seen that bariatric surgery benefits long-term health. As a result, Blue Cross Blue Shield has recently reduced the qualifying Body Mass Index (BMI) requirement from 35 to 30 for those patients that have poorly controlled type II diabetes mellitus.
What does that mean? Let’s say you’re 5’8” tall. Typically, in order to qualify for insurance-reimbursed bariatric surgery, you would have to weigh at least 230 pounds (BMI 35). But now, for example, if you weigh 200 pounds (BMI 30) and have Type II DM, you would qualify for bariatric surgery.
The surgery is highly rewarding for patients because they see virtually immediate results. “Many patients go home taking only half the medication dose they were taking prior to surgery,“ Dr. Jonker notes. “By continuing to follow the plan and implementing lifestyle changes, they see significant improvement throughout the first year. I would say that within 12-18 months, most patients have reached the maximum level of improvement."
It’s also important to note that bariatric surgery has been studied for many years and has a long-term proven track record. “Bariatric surgery remains the most powerful tool for a patient to achieve significant weight loss and improvement in obesity-related health conditions. Results are significantly better than weight loss medications alone and for most patients avoids the cost and hassle of long-term medication use to maintain results”, says Dr. Jonker. “However, obesity is a chronic and complex disease that requires consideration for multiple treatment modalities to achieve the best results long-term. Surgery, medications, and lifestyle modification can all be important components of treatment.”
Our bariatric teams coordinate with primary care physicians to help ensure the best possible outcomes for patients with diabetes.
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If you would like to learn more about how bariatric surgery could help you bring your diabetes under control, call 844-423-7564 or register for our free seminar today.