A study has been conducted in order to determine why gastric bypass surgery often times leads to the disappearance of type 2 diabetes in the patients. There has always been confusion in the medical world as to why patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery often go into type 2 diabetes remission while those who are obese and lose weight via dieting do not see the disappearance of type 2 diabetes as often. Scientists now believe the result may be due to a drastic decrease in inulin-resisting amino acids seen after gastric bypass surgery. The reduction in these circulating amino acids is said to be a result of the modification in size of the junction that connects the stomach and small intestine. To get more statistics on the results of gastric bypass surgery, it has been recorded that about 50 to 80% of patients who undergo the surgery go to into diabetes remission. Scientists have always been confused however by how fast these patients see changes in their diabetes because most of the time the disease is changed or fixed before the patient even loses weight. One doctor noted that not all obese individuals with diabetes should choose the surgery over dieting however because the surgery is quite invasive. The main difference between dieting and getting gastric bypass surgery is the fact that the bypass results in rapid decline of insulin resistance, which is not as commonly found in those who lose weight by dieting. The article states that the number of obese people worldwide with type 2 diabetes is believed to double by the year 2030. Therefore, the information contained within this article is very relevant to the world today. If these numbers do in fact continue to rise, then it is important that scientists and researchers determine how to fix obesity or if that is not possible, reduce their health risks such as type 2 diabetes. While no doctor can force an individual to undergo a very invasive surgery, it can be greatly advised especially if the health benefits of that surgery clearly outweigh the risks. Based on these studies, it is evident that gastric bypass surgery gives an individual the greater chance of type 2 diabetes remission in comparison to strictly dieting to lose weight. The research however may not lead to the sole conclusion that people should get gastric bypass surgery if their main goal is to get rid of type 2 diabetes. Instead, the studies done, which have shown how the surgery greatly reduces insulin resistant amino acids, may lead scientists and researchers to determining a way to reduce the number of these amino acids without the surgery. That way more individuals can avoid an invasive surgery but still receive the benefits of reducing the number of insulin-resistant amino acids that are large contributing factors to type 2 diabetes.
This article caught my attention specifically because it is somewhat relatable to my current life. While no one in my family has type 2 diabetes directly related to obesity, I do have family members with diabetes. This article shows that scientists and researchers are constantly making discoveries pertaining to diabetes that could eventually lead to finding a cure or finding easier ways to control the disease. Also, I have learned throughout the past few years that obesity is a problem in the world today that is only worsening. Thus, diseases such as type 2 diabetes are only going to continue to rise. With studies such as the one in this article being done, doctors will have new suggestions for their patients when trying to determine a way to reduce health risks and move towards a healthier lifestyle. Also, if science eventually takes these discoveries and utilizes them to determine a way to reduce the insulin resistant amino acids without the invasive surgery, then there will be a substantial decrease in the number of lives lost in surgery. Especially since surgery is much riskier for those with weight problems.
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/diabetes/story/2011/05/Study-Can-Gastric-bypass-surgery-help-treat-diabetes/46645136/1