Metabolic surgery, often called weight-loss or bariatric surgery, is a medical procedure that helps people lose a large amount of weight.
It’s usually considered by people who are severely overweight and have not been able to lose weight through diet or exercise alone.
In recent years, this type of surgery has become more popular among people with type 2 diabetes because many studies have shown it can improve blood sugar control.
In some cases, it even puts diabetes into remission, meaning the person no longer shows signs of the disease.
In fact, research shows that between 60 and 80 percent of people who have metabolic surgery may see their diabetes go into remission. But what about people who still have diabetes after the surgery or those whose diabetes returns later?
Until recently, it was unclear whether the surgery could still protect their health in the long run—especially their heart. Now, a new study suggests that even if diabetes doesn’t fully go away, metabolic surgery can still provide major heart benefits.
This research was presented in 2023 at a major medical conference by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The study looked at how people with diabetes fared after having weight-loss surgery, compared to those who didn’t have the procedure.
The researchers found that those who had the surgery were healthier, lived longer, and were less likely to suffer from serious heart problems such as heart attacks or strokes.
More specifically, the study showed that weight-loss surgery lowered the risk of dying from a heart attack by over 27 percent, and the risk of dying from a stroke by nearly 27 percent. Even for patients who did have a heart attack or stroke, those who had the surgery were more likely to survive.
Dr. Jonathan Jenkins, one of the lead researchers, explained that the surgery appears to help the heart by improving blood sugar control. This may happen even in cases where diabetes doesn’t completely go away. When blood sugar levels are more stable, it puts less strain on the heart and reduces the risk of complications.
The study analyzed medical records from 2016 to 2019, including over 418,000 people with diabetes. About 70,000 of them had metabolic surgery, while over 348,000 did not.
The two groups were matched by age, gender, race, income, and how severe their health conditions were. This helped ensure that the results truly reflected the effects of the surgery, not other differences between the groups.
Besides the heart benefits, the people who had surgery also spent fewer days in the hospital and needed less medical care overall. On average, they saved between $1,000 and $4,000 in healthcare costs.
They were less likely to need serious operations like heart bypass surgery or amputations, which are sometimes necessary in people with advanced diabetes. And if they did need these procedures, they tended to recover better than those who hadn’t had the weight-loss surgery.
Dr. Teresa LaMasters, President of ASMBS, said this study is important because it shows that the surgery can help manage diabetes and prevent serious health problems, even if the disease itself doesn’t completely go away. For people with diabetes, the risk of heart disease is very high. That’s why finding ways to lower that risk is so important.
Still, only a small number of people who qualify for this surgery actually get it—only about 1% each year. The number dropped even more in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But as more people learn about the full range of benefits from this surgery, more may consider it as a treatment option for diabetes and obesity.
In the United States, obesity is a major health concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 42% of Americans are considered obese. Obesity can lead to many health problems, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers. It also makes people more vulnerable to infections and severe illness.
In conclusion, metabolic surgery is not just about losing weight. It’s a powerful medical tool that can help manage diabetes, protect the heart, and even extend a person’s life. As more studies highlight these benefits, this type of surgery may become more widely used and recognized as a life-saving option for people struggling with obesity and diabetes.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about how to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes, and 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes.
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