Gastric Bypass for Type 2 Diabetes: Here's What You Should Know

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, commonly referred to just as gastric bypass, is regarded as the standard of care in bariatric procedures. As a minimally invasive surgery, gastric bypass helps patients achieve safe and effective rapid weight loss when other approaches have failed. 

Body weight isn’t the only metabolic condition that gastric bypass addresses. Type 2 diabetes commonly affects obese patients, causing a wide range of complications related to high blood sugar levels. The changes created as a result of gastric bypass can often send type 2 diabetes into remission. 

Dr. Amir Mehran and the team at University Bariatrics have an enviable track record of success performing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgeries. We can help you with the expertise to make the right choice for your surgically-assisted weight loss procedure. 

Defining type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes develops as your body starts to resist the effects of the hormone insulin. The chemical messenger signals to cells in your body when it’s time to accept glucose from the bloodstream as a fuel source. 

When insulin resistance starts, blood sugar levels climb since the systems that regulate glucose become overwhelmed. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves, sometimes leading to problems like blindness or limb amputations. Controlling blood sugar levels is the best way to treat type 2 diabetes and its related complications. 

How gastric bypass helps to fight diabetes

Body mass is a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes. It’s a common side effect of obesity. Reducing food intake and lowering the calories your body absorbs are the primary goals of gastric bypass as the mechanism to drive the metabolic changes that help you lose weight and maintain a healthy body mass. This weight loss can also reduce your body’s resistance to insulin. 

The Roux-en-Y procedure bypasses a section of the small intestine that’s hormonally active. This reduces the body’s production of ghrelin, the appetite hormone, while simultaneously boosting levels of GLP-1, which encourages insulin production. More available insulin helps to keep blood sugar levels down. 

The benefits of gastric bypass begin shortly after your procedure. In many cases, your reliance on diabetes medications subsides almost immediately. It’s common for gastric bypass patients to see their type 2 diabetes go into remission within two years of their bariatric surgery. 

Gastric bypass surgery isn’t a cure for type 2 diabetes, but remission means that you no longer need medication to stabilize your blood sugar. Regaining weight after bypass could also mean the re-emergence of high blood sugar levels. 

At University Bariatrics, we specialize in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Reach out by phone or online to our nearest office to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you understand your treatment options. The time to start your weight loss journey is now, so book your visit today.