Silver lining

Dr Shashank Shah,says,”Type-2 diabetes is a disease of pancreas,however,research shows that like yoga and exercise can help controlling the sugar level,a surgery by which pancreas can be made to secrete more insulin and also act upon the sugar level,will help the patients. This was possible only by treating the altered metabolism. The problems with metabolism are due to under or over secretion of certain hormones. While pancreas produces less insulin,parts of intestine produce incretins (JLP-1,PYY etc) that act on the food and help in digestion. The surgery is to make sure to take the food to that part of intestine that is producing the incretins,rather going the normal way,where the food reaches the intestine late. This helps in proper digestion of food and thus lowers the high sugar level.

Harshwardhan Gupta,consulting machine designer,says that he got a new lease of life after undergoing the surgery. “I was taking 135 units of insulin and was 97 kgs earlier,was counting days when my organs would fail. On the third day after the operation the insulin intake was reduced to zero. And after the surgery,I am now 60 kgs and can work without getting tired,and I can also eat anything. A medicine-free life is a boon to me.”

Sanjay Daulatrao Hon,46,also had a similar experience,where he got rid of diabetes,blood pressure and even his neuro-related problem. “Earliers I use to spend Rs 5,000 per month on my medicines and I felt as if I survive on medication only. Then,one day I was told about the surgery. I don’t have to take any medicine now and I feel quite active after the operation.” The surgery,while promises a new life,comes at a cost of Rs three to four lakh.