#06. Diabetes Surgery and the Possibility of Complete Remission
The Chairman of the International Diabetes Foundation, Dr. Shaukat Sadikot, said: „The IDF appeals to all nations affected by the diabetes pandemic to implement the changes to which they have all committed in support of the program to halt its progression.” We are surgeons, and we’re talking about surgeries that have a positive effect on type two diabetes.
Many times I hear the question: can an operation completely cure the patient?
The results of surgery depend on the patient’s insulin reserves and physical activity. The larger the insulin reserves are, the more successful the operation will be. We shouldn’t also forget that the causes of diabetes have an underlying hormonal background, and significantly affect the nervous system, impacting also the emotional state of the patient. Surgeries, on the other hand, regulate the hormonal balance and, in the long run, they contribute to the stabilization of the patient’s mental state. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease the course of which varies individually. Glycated hemoglobin values in the blood and already existing damage to the internal organs also need to be taken into the account for a reliable prognosis. As such, we cannot really speak of the cure, as what the operation does is that it normalizes the sugar and insulin levels, which, in turn, leads to a complete or partial remission of diabetes mellitus.
The crucial question is: Does diabetes remission after surgery last forever?
After 10-15 years, the effectiveness of surgery decreases for two natural reasons: first, we age. The older we get, the less muscle mass and activity we tend to have. Secondly, our metabolism eventually slows down. Therefore, our functional insulin reserves decrease with each passing year. It is important to note, however, that as a result of surgery, the body will use insulin more optimally.