Being overweight or obese increases your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Unlike type 1, type 2 diabetes is more of a lifestyle disease. In this condition, the body produces enough insulin but the body becomes resistant to it.
Why does it happen?
Research shows that the excess weight causes stress inside the individual cells, specifically the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). When there are too many nutrients for the ER to process than it can handle, it sends out signals to slow down the insulin receptors. This leads to insulin resistance and a buildup of glucose in the blood.
How can bariatric surgery help?
Bariatric surgery is the most effective tool for helping obese patients lose weight. Studies have also shown that weight loss surgery can also help improve or resolve some of the obesity-related conditions, including diabetes.
There are three major mechanisms that explain how bariatric surgery can reverse diabetes:
Weight loss improves insulin sensitivity.
Remember that in type 2 diabetes, the body produces enough insulin but the body becomes resistant to it. Researchers found out that through enforced caloric restriction, negative energy balance, and weight loss after the procedure, insulin resistance is reduced.
Bariatric surgery reduces lipotoxicity.
One interesting thing researchers found out is that bariatric surgery doesn’t just reverse diabetes through weight loss, but also by reducing lipotoxicity.
Lipotoxicity is a metabolic syndrome resulting from the accumulation of lipids. This, eventually, leads to cellular dysfunction and even death.
By reducing lipotoxicity, insulin resistance is also reduced.
Some bariatric procedures can influence gut hormones.
Some of the bariatric procedures, such as gastric bypass surgery, are shown to impact the secretion of gut hormones that can affect metabolism, appetite, and food intake.
Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons Can Help
We have helped thousands of patients get healthier through weight loss surgery. The majority of our diabetic patients experience improvement or resolution of their diabetes following bariatric surgery.
To help you get a better understanding of what it entails and what’s expected from you during the Bariatric Surgery process, we offer a FREE info series. If time, convenience, or safety is an issue, you can view our seminar online.
To register for our In-Person seminar, please visit this page.
For more questions, please don’t hesitate to call our Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons team at (865) 984-3413.
Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons is part of Premier Surgical Bariatrics in Knoxville, Tennessee. Foothills is affiliated with the Fort Sanders Regional Center for Bariatric Surgery, part of Covenant Health Bariatric Services.