I was banded on February 18th and haven't had any metformin for my diabetes since February 28th, Maria.  I am absolutely delighted with this result.  I have 2 immediate family members on insulin and was determined not to go that route.  My sugars are now always below 7 (I'm in Canada and that's how we measure).  This alone makes this whole process worth every uneaten cookie!!

That's great! Diabetes can take a toll on the body. Always cool to see ppl come off of meds, especially for diabetes!

Unfortunately, this PR doesn't tell the WHOLE story:  The DS has FAR FAR BETTER LONG TERM STATS than this.  Well over 95% long term resolution, i.e., CURE, of diabetes.

Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2010 May-Jun;6(3):249-53. Epub 2009 Oct 29.

Re-emergence of diabetes after gastric bypass in patients with mid- to long-term follow-up.

DiGiorgi M, Rosen DJ, Choi JJ, Milone L, Schrope B, Olivero-Rivera L, Restuccia N, Yuen S, Fisk M, Inabnet WB, Bessler M.

Columbia University Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York 10032, USA. [email protected]

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes (T2DM) improves or resolves shortly after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Few data are available on T2DM recurrence or the effect of weight regain on T2DM status.

METHODS: A review of 42 RYGB patients with T2DM and >or=3 years of follow-up and laboratory data was performed. Postoperative weight loss and T2DM status was assessed. Recurrence or worsening was defined as hemoglobin A1c >6.0% and fasting glucose >124 mg/dL and/or medication required after remission or improvement. Patients whose T2DM recurred or worsened were compared with those whose did not, and patients whose T2DM improved were compared with those whose T2DM resolved.

RESULTS: T2DM had either resolved or improved in all patients (64% and 36%, respectively); 24% (10) recurred or worsened. The patients with recurrence or worsening had had a lower preoperative body mass index than those without recurrence or worsening (47.9 versus 52.9 kg/m2; P = .05), regained a greater percentage of their lost weight (37.7% versus 15.4%; P = .002), had a greater weight loss failure rate (63% versus 14%; P = .03), and had greater postoperative glucose levels (138 versus 102 mg/dL; P = .0002). Patients *****quired insulin or oral medication before RYGB were more likely to experience improvement rather than resolution (92% versus 8%, P

CONCLUSION: Our results have shown that beyond 3 years after RYGB, the incidence of T2DM recurrence or worsening in patients with initial resolution or improvement was significant. In our patients, a greater likelihood of recurrence or worsening of T2DM was associated with a lower preoperative body mass index. Before widespread acceptance of bariatric surgery as a definitive treatment for those with T2DM can be achieved, additional study of this recurrence phenomenon is indicated.

"METHODS: A review of 42 RYGB patients with T2DM and >or=3 years of follow-up and laboratory data was performed."

They only reviewed 42 patients? That doesn't seem like enough to come to any conclusive results. Am I missing something?

Thanks for the info!

First, look which group published this.  These are some of the cutting edge bariatric/diabetes experts in the world.

There is a TON of anecdotal evidence (go read the RNY board or the revision board or the diabetes board), as well as from bariatric surgeons and endocrinologists, of RNYers getting their T2D back.  It is essentially unheard of with the DS - I've only heard of it happening to ONE DSer over the last 8 years of being on several DS message boards. and that person probably was already at the tipping point with her type 2 crossing over to type 1 due to exhaustion/death of her pancreatic insulin-producing cells.

But there is also a TON of evidence published.  Go to PubMed and search (diabetes "gastric bypass" "long term").

Here are a few:
http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/91/11/4223
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18463931 (BPD has the same intestinal construction as the DS)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17658018 (RNY long term resolution 76%)

Cool - thank you for clarifying!

For much more info on the topic, here are some studies/articles (and a little bit of discussion):
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/diabetes/3751535/If-you-ar e-Type-2-and-considering-WLS/

Sadly, I've seen more than one thread on the diabetes forum here from RNYers who saw their type 2 diabetes symptoms return after they thought it was initially resolved.

I am aware of one DS'er who became diabetic again after her surgery, but she is a LADA  (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes) a type 1.5, and yes there are more than TWO types of diabetes. The Other Diabetes: LADA, or Type 1.5

I also have these articles for reference on diabetes and Reactive Hypoglycemia (or late dumping as some articles are calling it)
Endocrine News
Endocrine Today Blog
Evaluation and Management of Adult Hypoglycemic Disorders An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline
Low blood glucose levels may complicate gastric bypass surgery
Gastric Bypass Linked to Abnormal Glucose Tolerance
Abnormal glucose tolerance testing following gastric bypass demonstrates reactive hypoglycemia
Pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of postoperative dumping syndrome which is the video posted by MeltingMama and done by the Joslin Clinic who specializes in Diabetes Care.

Reactive Hypoglycemia is a miserable condition. You go high with your blood sugar and then drop really low very fast. It's like riding a roller coaster that you can't stop. And sometimes the roller coaster hits bottom and crashes and kills you.

Don't be the one it kills.

 Type 2 diabetes is resolved in 75% of RNY post-ops. Many go home from surgery, never take another pill or shot and have well-controlled sugars and normal A1C readings for life. Some go home on pills and shots and then are taken off medication as their weight goes down.,

The other 25% do not resolve at all. What is the difference? Nobody knows for sure. A person who is 450 pounds, poor compliance with diet and no exercise might be completely resolved with weight loss surgery. Another person who is 70 pounds overweight, exercises, and follows a strict food plan may have to continue on pills and insulin. My doctor says he has taken bets on whose diabetes will be resolved and has often guessed wrong.

Perhaps the pancreas is worn out from too many years of taking oral medications. Perhaps the insulin resistance is too strong. Perhaps enough insulin is being produced, but it is not strong enough. Perhaps the person who says that they are compliant is eating too many carbs. Perhaps?????????????

Now what is done differently in DS that results in a 95% resolution in Type 2 diabetes.  I asked Spain's well known DS expert, Dr. Aniceto Baltasar.  His response is that the diabetes is resolved by the division of the duodenum.  That is done with RNY and with DS.  If the pancreas is no longer producing sufficient insulin, then diabetes will not be resolved with either RNY or DS surgery.

As I explained to you in another thread, while the RNY does fully bypass the duodenum, the DS leaves a short bit of duodenum (and the duodenum is short to begin with) in place since it is attached to the pylorus.

Further, if it were only about bypassing the duodenum, then jejuno-ileal transposition wouldn't work for type 2 diabetes since it doesn't alter the duodenum at all, yet it often does work. There is more going on than just whether or not that little 5-inch portion of small intestine is bypassed.