Metabolic surgery, also known as bariatric or weight-loss surgery, is a procedure that helps people lose weight. It’s becoming increasingly popular among people with diabetes because it has proven to be effective in managing and sometimes even reversing the disease.
Studies show that 60 to 80 percent of people who undergo this surgery may put their diabetes into remission, meaning they no longer show signs of the disease.
However, until recently, it wasn’t clear if metabolic surgery could protect the heart in cases where diabetes doesn’t completely go away or returns later on. A new study has revealed promising results that answer this important question.
New Research Shows Heart Benefits
In 2023, researchers shared their findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
They found that people with diabetes who had metabolic surgery were healthier overall and lived longer compared to those who didn’t have the surgery. More importantly, they were less likely to suffer from serious heart-related issues like heart attacks and strokes.
In fact, the surgery reduced the risk of death from a heart attack by more than 27 percent and from a stroke by almost 27 percent. Even for those who did experience these health problems, the surgery made it less likely they would die from them.
Why Does Metabolic Surgery Help?
Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, one of the researchers involved in the study, explained the results. He said, “This study shows that the surgery can help protect the heart, even if a patient doesn’t fully get rid of diabetes.”
He added that the surgery seems to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes, which may be why it also reduces the risk of heart problems.
Study Details
The research team analyzed data from 2016 to 2019, comparing two groups of people with diabetes. One group, consisting of 70,083 people, had metabolic surgery. The other group, which included 348,212 people, did not undergo surgery.
The two groups were similar in terms of age, gender, race, social class, and the severity of their conditions. This allowed the researchers to focus on the effects of the surgery itself, without other factors influencing the results.
Additional Benefits of the Surgery
The study found that the people who had metabolic surgery enjoyed more benefits beyond just improved heart health. They spent less time in the hospital and saved money because they needed less medical care overall. The cost savings ranged from $1,000 to nearly $4,000.
These patients were also less likely to need other surgeries, like heart bypass surgery or limb amputations, which can be common in people with advanced diabetes. Even when they did need these surgeries, they generally had better outcomes compared to those who didn’t have metabolic surgery.
What Do These Findings Mean?
Dr. Teresa LaMasters, President of ASMBS, emphasized the importance of this study. She said it shows that metabolic surgery can still be helpful for managing diabetes, even if the disease doesn’t fully disappear.
The surgery can protect against the complications of diabetes, including heart issues. This is important because many people with diabetes are at high risk for heart disease, which can significantly shorten their lifespan.
The Current Situation with Metabolic Surgery
Despite these benefits, only about 1% of eligible patients choose to have weight-loss surgery each year. The number of surgeries performed in 2020 dropped even further due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, as awareness of its benefits grows, more people may consider metabolic surgery as an option for managing their diabetes and improving their overall health.
Obesity and Diabetes: A Growing Problem
Obesity is a major issue in the U.S., with over 42 percent of Americans classified as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Obesity weakens the immune system and can lead to a host of other health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. It can also increase the risk of severe illness from conditions like COVID-19.
Conclusion
Metabolic surgery offers a powerful tool for people struggling with both obesity and diabetes. Not only can it help control diabetes, but it can also protect the heart and extend life.
As more research highlights these benefits, metabolic surgery could become a more common and life-saving option for patients around the world.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about a cure for type 2 diabetes, and these vegetables could protect against kidney damage in diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about bone drug that could lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and results showing eating more eggs linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
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