Have you been "cured" of your type-2 diabetes with Lap-Band?

[krafticus 0]

Hello all,

So, I had all of my paperwork completed and submitted to the insurance company this week. I am a type-2 diabetic Male with a BMI of 36/37 and should qualify for surgery shortly.

After talking with my surgeon, he was suggested going with Bypass as it statistically has a better "cure" rate with type-2 diabetes. I then talked with my endocrinologist, and she suggests the same thing. Now, I am about 70lb. overweight and can really go either way. My problem is that I am mentally prepared to get the lap-band done, but I am having a hard time getting my mind wrapped into the ByPass.

Has anyone here started with type-2 diabetes and are now free and clear of all/most medications? I am on insulin and a few pills now, but the dosages are pretty high.

From what I gather, banding cures about 40% while ByPass cures around 80% of cases. Such a huge difference.

Thanks all for your help.

Mark

[Cocoabean 430]

Hi Mark,

I was pre-diabetic about 7 years ago with fasting sugar in the range of 111-112.

In the intervening time I've gotten my band and lost around 70 lbs. Now my fasting sugar is around 99-104. So, it is slightly elevated, but did not progress. My endocrinologist was thrilled (I left his practice for a bit due to insurance changes, but am back now). But, my sugar has not gone all the way down to normal, either.

I can also tell you that my bariatric surgeon will not do a band on a full-blown diabetic, due to the remission rate achieved with bypass.

It doesn't exactly answer your question, but I hope it helps a bit.

[GipsyGirl 6]

I started at 260lbs with a goal weight at 150. ( 110lbs overweight ) female

I was taken off my diabetic medications next day after the surgery. Since then my number wasn't higher than 120 - usually it keeps itself at 90. Since lap band I am not supposed to eat carbs anyway so it works for me.

Good luck.

[ElfiePoo 109]

I'm on another forum where the vast majority are bypass patients and it's a bit horrifying to see how many are having major medical issues post-bypass, have regained all their weight and then some *and* are still taking insulin.

Neither banding, nor bypass, will 'cure' you of Type 2 diabetes. The only thing that will do that is to change your eating habits. The only thing thing that has ever helped my diabetes and brought my glucose levels into the normal range is to go on a low carb diet. Yes, losing weight will help, as will exercise, but the low carb diet was the one that took me from taking insulin and having difficulty keeping my glucose levels even below 200 consistently to not taking insulin and glucose levels at 90-100.

I've been having so much trouble with my band (really not doing the job it was designed for and causing me pain) that my surgeon's office asked if I wanted to consider a bypass. After doing the research prior to getting the band on all WLS options, I told them emphatically *NO*. There are worse things than being fat and after reading the bypass forum, I'd rather stay fat.

Some people are quite successful with the bypass. Others have constant medical problems related to the malabsorption. Two people I've known since 3 months before my surgery last year have died...basically of malnutrition and organ failure as a result. You never know which side of the equation you're going to be on until after the fact and at that point, it's too late because you can't get it reversed.

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