Maintaining a good diet after gastric banding and exercising regularly after surgery may be important elements of diabetes management, but results of this study highlight the value of gastric banding for both weight loss and healthy glycemic levels.

Key Benefits of Gastric Banding for Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Type 2 diabetes patients will struggle with managing healthy blood sugar levels along with their extra weight. Excess weight is a risk factor for developing diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems, in gastric banding is a valuable solution for managing all of these areas.

As stated by Dr. John Dixon, the lead doctor at the Centre for Obesity Research and Education, states that: “Our study presents strong evidence that obese patients with a Body Mass Index greater than 30 with Type 2 diabetes need to lose a significant amount of weight to improve their overall health and glycemic management.”

He also indicates that patients who lose a significant amount of weight from gastric banding surgery were found to be able to reduce their diabetes medication, control their blood pressure more effectively and lower blood fats – all of these are common challenges of Type 2 diabetes conditions. Normally these circumstances will take several months and years to get under control.

Other Concerns for Diabetes Patients

Despite the positive impact on Type 2 diabetes after gastric banding surgery, patients do need to keep up with a healthy weight loss program. In a rial also in 2008 highlights the results of 60 obese patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure, and compared the effects to those who were receiving conventional medical therapy for diabetes. Those who underwent gastric banding surgery also took part in a conventional therapy program which comprised of:

• Ongoing education about Type 2 diabetes and health
• Medical therapy with an experienced diabetologist
• Frequent contact with a diabetes educator
• Access to a dietitian, nurse and physician
• Lifestyle modification programs that included physical activity and education on low glycemic index foods for meal planning purposes

Those who completed the surgery and also pursued the conventional therapy program showed a significant improvement in the symptoms of metabolic syndrome and were able to reduce their diabetes medication. Therefore researchers concluded that the trial proves gastric banding leads to diabetes remission, but th patient must have ongoing care and lifestyle modification programs are necessary for long-term success.

Contact your local bariatric surgeon who can provide referrals for nutritional counseling, lifestyle modification therapy, and other resources to help you maintain weight loss for the long term – and reduce or eliminate a case of diabetes as a result.