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When to consider Surgery for Diabetes?

Good question? Obviously, one is not asking all diabetics to be subjected to surgery. Instead it is proposed as an option for some of them. And that too, for those who are eligible as is ascertained by some tests.Lets start by finding out who needs to look for options other than medicines and insulin for controlling the blood sugar.Well, there may be different scenarios. First, a diabetic well controlled on medicines and lifestyle changes with no evidence of diabetic complications. Would this subject be a good candidate for surgery? An argument might be  why not? After all, surgery offers permanent cure whereas medicines do not. And he or she might get worse with time and develop complications (kidney failure, high blood pressure, heart ailments, eye complications, infections, etc). Then what? Is it not a good idea to offer surgical cure to all eligible?All true, but what if this patient was to have a complication from the surgery? What about the commitments required in terms of follow up after surgery? If a person is doing well with medicines, is it not a good idea to leave him or her alone. Maybe. Sounds fair.Unless, the patient is adequately informed and has decided for himself or herself to undergo surgery for a long lasting freedom of diabetes knowing fully well the risks and consequences of surgery.Well, the argument can continue.Let us examine other scenarios. A young person with lots of productive years left in life having diabetes uncontrolled on pills and insulin. Or, consider a diabetic who is rapidly developing its complications. What about these people? If a cure is possible, is it not right to offer them a choice? Is it not fair to let them have the option of diabetes surgery? Let them decide if they are willing to take the small risk associated with surgery and the necessary follow up. After all, a life free of medicines, insulin and complications is something every diabetic is looking for.There is a lot of evidence from scientific research in recent years that has clearly demonstrated the benefits of bariatric surgery on diabetes. Way back in 1995, Dr Pories shocked the world by reporting that bariatric surgery corrects diabetes within days after surgery much before significant weight loss has taken place. The claim challenged the established conventional belief that diabetes is a chronic non-remitting illness necessitating lifelong treatment with pills and insulin. Subsequent scientific research in this area established the role of small intestine as an important cause of type 2 diabetes. It also demonstrated the role of realignment of intestinal flow done in bariatric surgery as the mechanism for resolution of diabetes.A consensus summit in Rome in 2009 attended by most respected bodies in the world has recommended strongly the use of bariatric surgery for diabetes under stipulated guidelines. In a huge meta-analysis comprising of 135,246 patients by Henry Buchwald et al, 78.1% of diabetic patients showed complete resolution and 86.6% showed improvement.There is an increasing burden of diabetes in the world today. India is unfortunately the place where this disease is going to strike maximally. We, as humans will be better prepared to combat this problem if we incorporate this effective solution as part of diabetes management. After all, surgery is now offering cure for a disease, which was so long considered incurable.’,     To view how this is done you can see the video of   Bariatric surgery on our you tube page .

Watch Diabetes Surgery video on YouTube to know more.