Diabetes surgery or metabolic surgery: what is it and what does it involve?

Have you heard of diabetes surgery, or metabolic surgery? If so, you're probably wondering how effective it is, what it involves, and whether or not it can help you with diabetes. To clear up all your doubts surrounding these procedures, in this post we explain what diabetes surgery is, how it works, and whether or not it's for you.

What is metabolic surgery or diabetes surgery?

Surgery for diabetes, or metabolic surgery, refers to operations performed on patients who are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese to help them lose weight and treat type 2 diabetes and other weight-related conditions. It includes procedures such as gastric bypassthe mini bypass and the gastric sleeve.

Metabolic surgery consists of bariatric surgical procedures that cause changes in metabolism, in addition to weight loss.

Metabolic surgery itself will vary depending on the procedure you undergo:

Gastric bypass

In a gastric bypass, both the stomach and small intestine are cut. Afterward, a small pouch of the stomach (about 15 to 30 ml in size) is directly connected to the small intestine. This pouch acts as the stomach, while the rest of it remains bypassed. 

This way, the useful space of the stomach is considerably reduced, which helps you feel less hungry and get full with less food.

Bypass surgery usually leads to remission of type 2 diabetes because it interferes with the functioning of the digestive system, restricting the absorption of sugars and other nutrients while reducing insulin resistance.

Beyond the advantages as metabolic surgery, gastric bypass can lead to a loss of up to 80% of excess weight.

Gastric sleeve

Gastric sleeve, or vertical gastrectomy, is a surgical procedure that involves reducing the usable space of the stomach with small incisions made using a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. After reducing the stomach size by up to 80%, it is then given 

With gastric sleeve surgery, up to 80%% of the stomach is removed. The remaining section is shaped into a sleeve or tube, which is where the surgery gets its name.

While it doesn't have the same chances of remission for type 2 diabetes as gastric bypass, the gastric sleeve is not far behind in effectiveness, so the chances of resolving type 2 diabetes are high. 

In addition to that, like the bypass, gastric sleeve surgery will help you lose up to 70% of excess weight in the first 6 months, with which you will also treat conditions such as sleep apnea, hypertension, and other comorbidities related to overweight and obesity.

Surgery is recommended for diabetes when it can help manage the condition and its related health problems. This often includes bariatric surgery (weight-loss surgery) for individuals with type 2 diabetes who are obese. The surgery can lead to significant weight loss and improved blood sugar control, sometimes even remission of diabetes. It's typically considered when lifestyle changes and medications haven't been sufficiently effective.

Surgery for diabetes is recommended:

• If you are between 25 and 65 years old.
• When you have a BMI over 40.
• If you have type 2 diabetes.
• When you have a BMI over 35 and you are unable to effectively treat your diabetes in any way.
• If you've already tried other alternatives like diet or exercise and haven't gotten results.

What results can you expect from metabolic surgery?

With metabolic surgery, up to 80%% of patients achieve remission of type 2 diabetes. You can lose more than 60% of excess weight in the first 6 months, in addition to treating all kinds of conditions related to overweight and obesity. Your life expectancy will also increase considerably.

In general, metabolic surgery or diabetes surgery can be a definitive solution for type 2 diabetes and being overweight. 

However, to ensure it's the procedure that best suits you, it's necessary to evaluate your case with a bariatric. If you are interested in addressing your overweight condition and suffer from type 2 diabetes, Contact our specialists and we'll show you the ideal solution for you..