Metabolic surgery for diabetes | Procedure and Recovery
Owing to the increasing stats for the patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2M), laparoscopic metabolic surgery for diabetes treatment is considered a potential option. According to the research studies conducted by the clinical researcher’s reports, the global diabetes prevalence is 9.3. Further, the expert estimates it to increase by 10.2% by 2030 and 10.9% by 2045. Notably, the prevalence of the disease is higher in urban areas than the rural areas.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Health professionals describe Type 2 diabetes mellitus as a chronic disease. Diabetes gives way to various medical complications and various socioeconomic effects. The body fails to produce sufficient insulin that may comply with the body’s needs. Consequently, the body becomes unable to regulate blood sugar levels and leaves too much sugar in the blood. Primarily, two issues co-play their role in Type 2 Mellitus; the hormone that regulates the blood sugar levels is not enough, and the cells do not respond to the insulin well.
The condition was previously known to be adult-onset diabetes. However, type 1 and type 2 diabetes may set in during childhood or adulthood. However, T2 M is the most prevalent in older adults. The symptoms of T2M include;
- Excessive thirst
- Tiredness
- Excessive urination
- Blurred vision
- Frequent infections
- Tingling in the hands or feet
- Fatigue
Can diabetes be cured permanently?
As for a short answer to this, metabolic surgery for diabetes can cure diabetes permanently. Typically, the endocrinologists diagnose the T2M via conducting the fasting glucose test, oral glucose tolerance test, and the A1c blood test. Further, as diabetes is a multi-faceted medical issue, there may be several approaches to deal with the disease. Or else, the healthcare professionals utilize a multi-dimensional method comprising a combination of medication and lifestyle changes such as diet plans and exercise.
Notably, obesity is a potential risk for diabetes. Un-controlled obesity may cause various other medical complexities, severe impact on the quality of life, and decreased life expectancy. Clinical research conducted by Dong and their coworkers implies that medical therapy is not much used in treating obese patients for T2M. Hence, metabolic surgery for diabetes has become a standard method for diabetes treatment.
Diabetes operation in Pakistan
Owing to the great success of diabetes treatment, the best weight loss surgeon for diabetes offers their valuable services for surgery to cure diabetes and other co-morbid conditions. Studies have marked that 83% of the people suffering from T2M, and 86% of those suffering from glucose tolerance impairment report that blood sugar levels, glucosylated serum insulin and the stats stabilize after-the surgery. Since 1995, when Walter Porieset successfully conducted bariatric surgery to treat diabetes, metabolic surgery for diabetes has become a viable option for the treatment. Due to the continuous success won by the best metabolic surgeon for diabetes, the surgery is gaining popularity as the best treatment for diabetes type 2, especially in most Asian countries, including Pakistan, India, and China.
The stats indicate that if you get to the best metabolic surgeon for diabetes, the surgery not only treats T2M but also relieves the co-morbid conditions.
Procedure and recovery metabolic surgery for diabetes
According to Dr Melvin Look, general surgeon at Parkway East Hospital, metabolic surgery is just a surgical treatment for a cluster of disorders caused by diabetes. The umbrella of metabolic syndrome includes hypertension, high blood cholesterol, dyslipidemia, the incidence of heart diseases, and stroke.
Currently, the most offered diabetes operation in Pakistan is
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG):
The procedure reduces the stomach into the shape and size of a banana. Laparoscopic surgery helps the patient cut down the food intake. Furthermore, it enhances the impact of intestinal hormones that helps bring down the high blood sugar levels and treat the other co-morbidities.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB):
In contrast to the LSG, in LRYGB metabolic surgery for diabetes, the surgeon staples the portion of the stomach and reduces the stomach to the size of an egg. Further, the surgeons connect this pouch with the Hence, the patient consumes less food and reduces the overall calories and fat absorbed by the stomach.
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery (LAGB):
In such metabolic surgery for diabetes, the surgeon will insert an adjustable band around the upper portion of the stomach. It makes a small pouch in the stomach, resulting in reduced food intake. As the title of the surgical procedure indicates, the band is adjustable.
Laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB):
The best weight loss surgeon for diabetes creates a small stomach pouch and connects it to a portion of the small intestine. This procedure is the most practised and well-researched metabolic surgery for diabetes treatment. Notably, it has become the gold standard procedure by now.
Notably, the most effective of these methods is the RYGB which is the best treatment of diabetes type 2.
Preoperative management of the diabetic patient
People exceeding the BMI of 27 kg/m2 suffer from at least one of the co-morbidities mentioned above. The best weight loss surgeon for diabetes conducts a detailed diagnosis of the patient’s medical condition. Furthermore, the patient is also tested for response to lifestyle change and weight loss medication. The preoperative management for the candidate of metabolic surgery for diabetes includes
- Blood tests
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Gastroscopy
Hence, the surgeon determines if the patient meets the suitability criteria for the surgery. For the best treatment, you will be consulting with dieticians, physiotherapists, and other medical specialists to ensure the need for metabolic surgery to cure diabetes.
Recovery from the metabolic surgery
The advanced laparoscopic surgery is the minimally invasive surgical option to treat diabetes. So far, metabolic surgery has proved successful for significant long-term weight loss. Mostly, patients lose about 70% to 80% of their excess weight within 18 to 24 months after the surgery. In addition, the surgery not only helps lose weight but has a complex adaptive effect on the patient’s gastrointestinal hormones. Hence, it helps in dealing with various other co-morbidities.
The surgery proceeds under general anesthesia, and the typical metabolic surgery for diabetes takes about 2 hours. Initially, the patient can consume only liquid foods for some days and gradually shifts to a soft diet. Mostly, the surgeon may discharge patients from the facility within 2 to 3 days of post-operative care. Hence, the patient may get back to his healthy life, and within 2 weeks after the metabolic surgery for diabetes. Lastly, the patients may even continue their physical activity.
