People with diabetes who have gastric band surgery need to carefully follow medical advice, particularly related to their diabetes, medication and diet. Besides changes in appetite and mood that can occur after gastric band surgery, people with diabetes often experience symptoms of increased thirst and hunger, and also frequent urination.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes can be present from birth or develop in a person’s lifetime due to changes in blood sugar and how insulin is produced in the body. There are a number of different types of diabetes:
- Type 1 means the person’s body cannot produce insulin or enough insulin;
- Type 2 is where cells in the body don’t use insulin properly and there is insulin deficiency.
- Besides gestational diabetes that may be experienced by pregnant women, other types of diabetes include cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and steroid diabetes.
Weighing risks of laparoscopic gastric band surgery and diabetes
A person with obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, undergoing gastric band surgery is at risk of complications that may include vomiting, bleeding, clotting and infection. However, complications are reduced through laparoscopical placement of the band and close medical monitoring – a procedure that can be done in an outpatient clinic within half an hour where the adjustable ring is inserted at the top of the stomach to tighten it into a smaller pouch. The risk of complications from gastric band surgery is by far not as great as obesity-related illness and diabetes risks. Gastric band surgery can save a diabetic life.
Effects of gastric band surgery on diabetes and obesity-related illness
More info is on www.gastricbands.co.uk but in general patients with diabetes are particularly benefiting from this type of gastric band surgery. Not only are they losing weight with skin firming, but they are being taught a healthy way of life with manageable appetite as the band shrinks the stomach and reduces the quantity of food desired.
The reduced Body Mass Index and weight lowers blood pressure, lessens sleep apnoea and improves or cures diabetes enabling patients to recover with enhanced well-being and better quality of life. Speak to your doctor about how gastric band surgery can treat your diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses.