Learn more about weight loss surgery at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians www.RMAP.com (801) 268-3800
According to American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) diabetes affects 9.4% of the total US population (30.3 million people). There is a death from complications associated with diabetes every ten seconds, and because of this, it is one of the top ten leading causes of US deaths. Life expectancy is reduced by 12-14 years and an early death is increased by as much as 80%.
What is Diabetes (Type 2)?
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is the most common form of diabetes, which is when the body becomes resistant to insulin (a hormone that controls the blood sugar levels in the body). 90% of type 2 diabetes is an attribute to obesity (medically defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m or more) and excessive body fat, being one of the largest causes to developing type 2 diabetes. This disease can unfortunately lead to many health problems and co-morbidities such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, amputations, high blood pressure, psychiatric disorders, and put at risk for certain forms of cancer.
Type 2 diabetes can often worsen overtime, which is why it is considered to be a chronic and progressive disease, leading to even more medication or changes in dosage to keep the blood sugar levels stable. It has become one of the most expensive chronic diseases in the US1 . In 2017, the cost was $327 billion dollars with 1 in 4 healthcare dollars attributed to diabetes averaging medical expenditures of about $9,600 per year, 2.3 times higher than non-diabetics2. It is estimated by The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that 34.2 million people of all ages had diabetes and 7.3 million adults aged 18 years or older were not aware of or did not report having diabetes (undiagnosed)3. The percentage of adults aged 18 years or older increased with age, reaching 26.8% among those aged 65 years or older.
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery or more commonly known as weight loss surgery (WLS) is currently the most effective treatment that we have for type two diabetes, and is recognizable as such by organizations such as the American Diabetes Association (ADA). More and more insurance companies are beginning to recognize this as well, allowing more and more patients to get approval from them to have weight loss surgery.
Here we have listed the most commonly utilized and approved operations performed in the US, and that our skilled surgeons here at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians (RMAP) perform.
Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y
Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass is one of the most frequently performed procedures for obesity in the US. It was developed to limit the amount of food consumed, but also induces metabolic changes to decrease hunger and increase metabolism. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a restrictive and metabolic procedure.
Almost all gastric bypass procedures performed today use a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. The entire procedure is done through small incisions in the abdomen, an overnight stay is required, and most patients are discharged the day after surgery.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve Gastrectomy is a restrictive and metabolic procedure, performed either as a primary surgery or as part of a staged procedure with the duodenal switch. The amount of food a patient consumes is reduced, and anatomy alterations result in metabolic changes. This leads to a decrease in hunger and an increase in metabolism. The sleeve gastrectomy is a primarily restrictive procedure, but does have a metabolic component.
Virtually all sleeve gastrectomy procedures are performed with a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. Most patients leave the hospital the day after surgery.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (DS)
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (DS) is a restrictive and powerful metabolic procedure. The amount of food a patient consumes is reduced, and anatomy alterations results in metabolic changes. This leads to a decrease in hunger and increase in metabolism.
The majority of DS procedures performed today use a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique, with 7-8 small abdominal incisions. Most patients are discharged the day after surgery, but some stay two nights depending on their recovery.
At RMAP, we believe that patients should choose their bariatric surgery after receiving quality education about the benefits and risks of each procedure. We strive to provide you with up-to-date and evidence-based information about each surgery to help you with that decision.
If you are interested in learning more about each of the procedures, the benefits and risks of each of them, and what procedure is best for you, we invite you to attend our free informational seminar.
Links to similar articles:
Weight Loss Surgery and Diabetes: How Does it Resolve?
Weight Loss Surgery and the Insurance Process
The Lifestyle of a Bariatric Patient
www.RMAP.com
Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians
801-268-3800
1160 East 3900 South, Suite 4100
SLC, UT 84124
- https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/41/5/917/36518/Economic-Costs-of-Diabetes-in-the-U-S-in-2017 (American Diabetes Associated (ADA))
- https://www.diabetes.org/about-us/statistics/cost-diabetes (American Diabetes Associated (ADA))
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf (The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC))