Question:
Diabetic retinapothy

I have proliferative diabetic retinapothy and am in pre op testing. Now I know my diabetes will likely be cured by the surgery and weight loss. But my eye doctrors including the specialist are clueless about the surgery and its effects. They said they have never had a WLS patient that they are aware of. One eye is doing well after laser surgery months ago but the other one is in trouble and very blurry with bleeders all the time. I guess I am most concerned about the blood thiners damaging the bad eye and perhaps getting a detached retina or something else immediately post op. Anyone have any experience with this? Even my surgeon who is very knowledgable appears to not have much experience with this.    — [Anonymous] (posted on May 1, 2001)

May 1, 2001
I am diabetic, although I do not suffer from retinapothy. When I saw your post, I just wanted to offer a clarification. Diabetes is a disease for which there is no current cure. What this surgery does is improve your blood sugar dramatically when you lose weight. In my case, I was on oral meds pre-WLS. Three months post-op I went completely off my meds and just control the diabetes through diet and exercise. I feel wonderful. However, there is no guarantee that I won't need oral meds or insulin later in life, especially when I get pregnant. And for reasons that are not totally understood, some diabetics will suddenly need to switch to meds or insulin even after a long period of good control. I am sorry I don't have an answer to your immediate questions, and also, I do not want to be discouraging. I cannot begin to tell you how much my quality of life has improved because of WLS. But it's important to understand that WLS will not actually cure diabetes, just dramatically improve it! Best wishes:):):)
   — Paula G.

May 1, 2001
I no longer have diabetes. I was taking 22 bottles of insulin each month. I also took Glucophage. I haven't taken any diabetic meds since surgery 1 year ago. I had neuropathy in my hands and feet. That is gone also. I was told this wouldn't go away, but it has. I don't think enough is known about diabetes and WLS. I tend to believe diabetes is a disease of the intestine, from over absorbtion. I was terminally ill before surgery, now I am cured. Good Luck, and God Bless. He can heal anything. --
   — CohenHeart