Weight-Loss Surgery Treats Type 2 Diabetes
Researchers at Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse are drawing national attention with a recent study, finding weight-loss surgery an effective treatment for obese patients with type 2 diabetes.
The three-year study compared 51 diabetic patients undergoing the weight loss surgery to a control group of obese patients who underwent more common treatments for type 2 diabetes.
"It's quite remarkable the data that shows that those who had gastric bypass, about 59 percent of those patients were in remission," said Dr. Shanu Kothari, "by that meaning they're off all of their blood sugar medication and they're blood glucose levels were in the acceptable, normal range."
Researchers also say some of the patients who didn't have the surgery actually saw an increase in their medications as well as their diabetic condition.
Based on their findings the research team is recommending the weight-loss surgery be recognized by physicians, health insurance companies and medicare as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
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