A new study has found that more than half of people with diabetes saw their disease go away after having a type of weight-loss surgery, even if they didn’t lose a lot of weight.
This surprising result shows that the surgery might help treat diabetes in ways we didn’t expect.
The research focused on a procedure called gastric bypass, a kind of metabolic surgery that changes how the stomach and small intestine handle food.
Scientists looked at data from 815 patients who had the surgery between 2008 and 2017. They followed each person for about seven years, making this one of the longest and most detailed studies on this topic.
The big finding? About 51% of the patients no longer had diabetes several years after surgery. And this happened even for some people who didn’t lose a lot of weight.
The people who were most likely to see their diabetes disappear had some things in common. They were not using insulin before surgery. They were taking fewer diabetes medications.
They had lived with diabetes for a shorter time. Their blood sugar levels were lower before surgery. And they lost more weight after the operation.
So, while losing more weight did help, it wasn’t the only reason why their diabetes improved. Dr. Omar Ghanem, the lead researcher on the study, explained that the surgery seems to affect how the body handles blood sugar in other ways too. It’s not just about shedding pounds.
However, Dr. Ghanem also warned that the surgery is not a magic cure. People still need to take care of their health and keep track of their diabetes after surgery. Regular checkups and a healthy lifestyle are still very important.
Dr. Teresa LaMasters, a respected expert in the field who was not part of the study, said the research is important. She believes doctors should start thinking about using this surgery to help treat diabetes, not just to help people lose weight.
For many people living with diabetes, this kind of surgery might be a life-changing option. It could help them reduce or even stop using medications, feel better, and lower the risk of serious health problems.
This study gives new hope to people with diabetes. It shows that there are more ways to manage or even reverse the disease than we thought before. But it also reminds us that no matter what treatment is used, staying healthy takes effort, care, and support.
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