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One way of dealing with obesity during the past decade has been gastric bypass surgery.  The surgery, in which a small pouch is sectioned off in the stomach and bypassed directly to the intestines, helps extremely obese individuals lose weight quickly.  This surgery literally saves lives.  In addition, it has the ability to help individuals normalize blood and insulin levels, avoid heart attacks and heart failure and other issues that could be fatal.

Studies have shown, however, that the results of gastric bypass surgery are different when performed on individuals with diabetes as opposed to individual who do not have diabetes.  Though there is substantial weight loss in both groups, the individuals with diabetes experience less weight loss than the individuals without diabetes.  92% of patients without diabetes who underwent the procedure lost 40% of their total weight, while the patients with diabetes showed a 40% weight loss in only 79% of the cases.

Researchers are currently trying to figure out the reason that this occurs.  One theory is that the new stomachs used in the surgery are not “one size fits all.”  They are each measured to fit the anatomy of the individual they are being used for.  As a result, 5% to 15% of all gastric bypass surgeries result in little or no weight loss because the new stomach can be stretched to hold enough food to prevent the loss of weight.

The other more important and relevant reason for the lower percentage of weight loss in those individuals with diabetes is medication.  Medication that individuals with diabetes use to control blood sugar also keeps them from losing weight.  The fact that diabetes is often connected to being overweight does not help this situation.  This results in a sort-of catch 22.  It’s not that gastric bypass surgery does not work for individuals with diabetes.  It does work and it works well.  It is an incredible alternative to many of the health issues that would occur had surgery not been performed. 

The basic difference is that the body of the person with diabetes has to overcome some extra issues – including the medication situation – in order to help the individual lose the weight, even with gastric bypass surgery. 

Nonetheless, gastric bypass surgery has significant benefits for individuals who are overweight and have diabetes.  If you think that this might be a possible option for you, talk to your doctor about the possibilities.