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Surgery cures diabetes

Friday 19 May 2006

Australia is in the grip of an obesity epidemic. People who contracted diabetes from being grossly overweight can now be cured by surgery.

In a study presented by Dr Susan Gan at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons ASC she revealed “There is a surgical cure now for people who suffer from type 2 diabetes”.

Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease and is linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of type 2 diabetics are overweight.

The study focused on the change of diabetic status for obese patients undergoing three different surgical procedures for weight loss. Over 95 per cent of patients who underwent sleeve gastroplasty or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery had significant improvements in their diabetes status, many to the point of “cure”, compared to 50 per cent of patients undergoing a gastric band.

“This study gives us the evidence that surgery really does help sustain weight loss for people suffering from obesity and can help eradicate diseases that come along with obesity,” said Dr Gan.

“Losing weight is a difficult task particularly when you are morbidly obese, sometimes changing your diet and exercise is not enough.

“There is a real stigma attached to people suffering from obesity, many people think that ‘it’s their fault’ for allowing themselves to become fat and they don’t view it as a problem. When it really is quite a serious issue.”

“Many see surgery as a cosmetic solution not as a disease solving operation, this is the point that we need to get across to people. It is so difficult for people suffering from obesity” said Dr Gan.

Diabetes and obesity are two related illness that can be cured. This study has proven surgery for the obese is not only a viable option for weight loss but it may also cure type 2 diabetes.

More than 2,000 surgeons from around Australia and New Zealand will attend the week long conference where over 850 papers on the latest techniques, surgical innovation and issue about surgery will be discussed.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is the peak representative body for Australasia 7,100 surgeons and 1,650 trainees. The College is the recognised body for maintaining surgical standards and the training and practice of surgeons.

The College represents nine specialists societies which includes general surgery , plastic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, urology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular, otolaryngology hand and neck, neurosurgery and paediatric surgery.