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Gastric Bypass May be Cure for Many People with Type Two Diabetes

Nov 27, 2007 | Staff | News 12

Gastric bypass is often used to help obese patients lose weight, but it may also be a cure for many people with severe cases of type two diabetes.

Larry Stecker was taking 35 pills a day, but still, his Type II Diabetes was winning.

"They had told me it was just a matter of time and I'd be on dialysis," Stecker explained.

Seven months ago larry came to Alexian Brothers Hospital to have a stomach bypass operation.

Surgeons like James Kane have know for years that these operations not only reduce a person's weight, but also improve obesity-related diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea.

Still, the biggest benefit is for patients with Type II Diabetes.  

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the surgery slashes deaths from diabetes by more than 90-percent, and it's not just because patients lose weight.

"Many of the people leave the hospital off their medications, and they haven't lost a pound yet.  It changes something almost overnight," explained Dr. Kane.

The exact cause is a mystery.

After his surgery Larry lost 98 pounds in seven months, and just as amazing, he didn't need his medication anymore after just three weeks.

"I didn't do it to just lose weight. I did it to get my health back.  I feel like I'm 20 years younger now," Larry said.

It takes longer, but dieting alone also will improve type two diabetes, so Dr. Kane says surgery should only be a last resort.