Diabetes is a serious health concern that affects nearly 30 million Americans. It is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.
Nicholson Clinic wants you to be educated on diabetes, its relation to obesity, and how weight loss surgery may be able to help reduce your risk.
The American Diabetes Association recently found that metabolic surgery, such as partial gastrectomies and other bariatric procedures, is now recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes who can’t control hyperglycemia adequately with other measures, essentially lowering BMI thresholds. Read More
Here’s what you need to know:
- Diabetes affects nearly 30 million Americans.
- It is the 7 th leading cause of death in the United States.
- Type 2 diabetes is weight-related and develops when the body becomes insulin resistant.
- Almost 90% of people living with type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity.
Diabetes should not be taken lightly. It can lead to a number of dangerous health complications and conditions including:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Cardiovascular disease
- Skin disorders
- Nerve damage (neuropathy)
- Amputations
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetes can be controlled with diet and weight management, but new research has found that weight loss surgery may help diabetics achieve complete or partial remission of diabetes symptoms over time. In some cases, diabetic patients who undergo weight loss surgery are able to reduce or eliminate their dependence on diabetes medications to control blood sugar after surgery.
Weight loss surgery has served to help some diabetic patients reverse the impacts the disease has on their lives. Maintaining weight is vital for diabetics who wish to gain an upper hand on the disease and its potential side effects. Surgical intervention can make a big difference for those deemed obese or morbidly obese.
- Over 80% of Sleeve Patients have been cured of Type 2 Diabetes. Learn More
- 95% of Gastric Bypass patients have been cured of Type 2 Diabetes. Learn More
According to the American Diabetes Association’s 2018 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, bariatric surgery is:
- Recommended for people with a body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height used to estimate how close a person is to a healthy weight) of 40 or higher (37.5 for Asian Americans, who often develop diabetes at a lower BMI than other groups), regardless of their A1C.
- Recommended for people whose BMI falls between 35 and 39 (32.5 to 37.4 for Asian Americans) if, despite lifestyle changes and medication, their A1C is still above goal.<
- Considered an option for people with a BMI between 30 and 34.9 (27.5 to 32.4 for Asian Americans) if, despite medications (including insulin), their A1C is above goal.
If you’re dealing with diabetes or any other weight-related condition, contact Nicholson Clinic today to discuss your candidacy for bariatric surgery.
Watch Dr. Nicholson discusses how weight loss surgery can cure Type 2 Diabetes below.
