Diabetes and Bariatric Surgery: Is It Safe?
Plano, TX, October 30, 2015 – Diabetics who struggle with weight control and subsequently issues related to maintaining a steady blood sugar level may find assistance they need courtesy of weight loss surgery. More research is indicating that bariatric surgery is safe for patients who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
“Researchers have found that laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures pose no greater risk for type 2 diabetics than other commonly performed surgical procedures,” says Dr. Nick Nicholson, founder and lead surgeon at the Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery. “In fact, this type of surgery may pose lower risks. Since maintaining weight is a critical facet in maintaining tight blood sugar control, diabetics who are obese may find the relief they need by seeking surgical intervention. By shedding pounds and adopting a healthier lifestyle, diabetics can help themselves lower risks for a host of complications related to this chronic disease.”
The latest findings come from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio where investigators analyzed data from the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Researchers looked at surgical procedures involving diabetics performed between January 2007 and December 2012 to draw their conclusions. All told, 66,678 patient cases were reviewed. A total of 16,509 patients underwent gastric bypass procedures. The complication rate for those undergoing gastric bypass was 3.43 percent with a mortality rate of 0.30 percent. Ultimately, the findings indicated a risk comparable to other laparoscopic procedures involving diabetics. In fact, bariatric surgery was deemed to present a lower risk than other surgical interventions, such as coronary artery bypass grafts.
“Maintaining weight is simply vital for diabetics who wish to gain an upper hand on this disease and its potential side effects,” Dr. Nicholson says. “Surgical intervention can make a big difference for those deemed obese or morbidly obese. People interested in learning more about the potential benefits bariatric surgery can present should discuss this possibility carefully with their doctors.”
To find out more about the Nicholson Clinic, its locations and the services it provides, visit it online at www.nicholsonclinic.com.
Founded by Dr. Nick Nicholson, one of the country’s leading weight loss surgeons and co-author of “Weight Loss Surgery: The Real Skinny,” the Nicholson Clinic for Weight Loss Surgery offers a variety of options to help patients gain control of their weight and their lives.
