Heart disease and Type 2 diabetes are among the leading causes of death in the United States, and obesity is a major risk factor. Obesity is associated with a number of other chronic health conditions and impairments of quality of life, too.
At Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery we offer bariatric surgery as an effective weight loss solution so patients can live not only longer, but better lives. The benefits of bariatric surgery are many. In addition to losing weight, feeling better, and being able to move more easily, patients enjoy improved heart health and better glucose control.
Here’s how bariatric surgery benefits your health if you have Type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
Along with a multidisciplinary wellness plan, weight loss surgery is the best answer for Type 2 diabetes in people affected by obesity. The most recent clinical research shows that bariatric surgery is more effective at reversing Type 2 diabetes than diet and lifestyle changes alone. Patients who choose to undergo weight loss surgery can look forward to the following Type 2 diabetes benefits.
Nearly everyone with Type 2 diabetes who undergoes bariatric surgery experiences improvements in their condition. Bariatric surgery significantly influences how well the body handles blood sugar.
Following weight loss surgery, patients experience lower fasting blood glucose, increased insulin sensitivity, and lower post-meal glucose levels. The body becomes better able to handle blood sugar as the cells become more sensitive to the effects of insulin.
The improvements in glucose control are noticeable by a marked decline in A1C following surgery and weight loss. The A1C test measures long-term glucose control over the previous three months.
Bariatric surgery is one of the only treatments available to offer a complete cure for Type 2 diabetes. Many patients who undergo weight loss surgery experience complete remission of Type 2 diabetes, according to the most recent data from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Roughly six years following weight loss surgery, over 60% of patients have normal blood sugar levels and show no signs of diabetes. Patients are able to significantly reduce or eliminate their need for medication altogether.
Every 10 seconds someone dies from diabetes complications, which include kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke. High blood sugar damages the nerves and circulatory system and raises the risk of ulcers, infections, and lower-limb amputations. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure among adults.
Patients who undergo bariatric surgery and reduce their weight improve their blood sugar levels and drastically reduce their risk of diabetes complications. With blood glucose levels under control, your chances of experiencing serious complications drops significantly.
The benefits of bariatric surgery don’t end with improvements and remission of Type 2 diabetes. Weight loss surgery also protects your heart and lowers the chances of dying from heart disease. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery see improvements in some heart disease risk factors.
It’s well-established that bariatric surgery resolves high blood lipids in many patients, which lowers the risk of heart disease. Many patients affected by obesity have high cholesterol, a key factor that raises the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Following weight loss surgery, patients often see a downward trend in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a bad form of cholesterol, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), a good form of cholesterol that protects the heart.
Patients also see a significant reduction in triglycerides, a type of fat your body makes from excess calories.
Bariatric surgery effectively controls blood pressure in patients affected by obesity and hypertension. Obese individuals are at a higher risk of hypertension. The increase in fatty tissue raises the forces against your artery walls and places extra strain on the heart, causing elevated blood pressure.
The good news is that most patients experience a dramatic drop in blood pressure when they lose weight after bariatric surgery. Some can even reduce their high blood pressure medication and regain better control of their blood pressure. And normalizing blood pressure cuts your heart disease risk.
If you’re overweight or obese, you’re at a higher risk of developing dangerous health complications. We offer patients living in the Detroit area multiple options for weight loss surgery. Call our office in Royal Oak, Michigan, to learn more and request a consultation with Dr. David Chengelis.
