Gastric bariatric surgery may help diabetics, shows study

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“This was an investigator initiated study for four years. Those who underwent bariatric showed 100 per cent improvement. About 60 per cent do not require medication and can take normal sugar. In the second group, there was 75 per cent improvement,” claimed Shah, who presented the study at ADA last week.

The study was awarded Vivian Fonseca Scholar Award and recognised for its innovative technique to treat diabetes in ADA’s 76th scientific session which continued for five days in United States and had over 2,500 research presentations.

According to Shah, lifestyle changes cannot always cure uncontrolled diabetes to which bariatric surgery now offers a hope. “Bariatric helps reduce food intake and burns fat. The insulin production from pancreas improves which removes extra sugar from the body,” he said. According to him, disease profile in Indians is different from West where diabetes is directly caused by obesity.

The bariatric procedure however involves higher cost, point several endocrinologists, and can cause vitamin and nutrient deficiency.

“Following bariatric surgery, if a patient is not counselled properly, he may turn obese in few years and convert into a diabetic again. We need expert surgeons if this method is to be used in India,” said Dr Mahesh Padsalge, heading Diabecure Specialty Centers.

The study focused on moderately obese patients between 60-80 kgs. “For moderately obese patients, we usually suggest lifestyle changes. Only those with BMI more than 32, who are obese, are recommended bariatric surgery,” said endocrinologist Sudhendra Kulkarni, consultant at Fortis Hospital. According to him, about 95 per cent type-2 diabetics are obese. “I have not read the study, but I believe bariatrics is used to achieve weight loss here which can help control diabetes,” he added.

Diabetologist Dr Shashank Joshi however maintained that exercise and nutritional changes are best methods to control obesity and diabetes. “We do not recommend bariatric surgery to everyone. It is a surgical procedure that has its pros and cons,” he said.