Weight Loss Surgery Key In Treating Diabetes, Experts Say

By: Kafi Drexel

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Members of the medical community are making a push for weight loss surgery in the fight against diabetes. NY1's Kafi Drexel filed the following report.

The International Diabetes Federation, the world's leading authority on diabetes treatment and research, says weight loss surgery should become a standard approach to treating Type 2 diabetes for obese patients. And not just as a last resort but as a first line of defense.

"Diabetes is a devastating disorder. It is associated with very serious complications such as blindness and amputations, heart disease. The earlier, better control of diabetes occurs there's a less risk of those complications," said Dr. Paul Zimmet of the International Diabetes Federation.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Weight loss surgery for obese patients has been shown to be up to 70 to 80 percent effective at sending the disease into complete remission.

The IDF is recommending surgery for patients with a body mass index of 35 or more. Doctors are also considering recommendations for mildly obese patients who have a difficult time controlling diabetes with regular medication or if they suffer from other risk factors which could lead to heart disease. More insurers are beginning to cover surgeries, but without coverage it can cost as much as $30,000.

"Every time you consider a therapeutic intervention you should consider what the cost of that intervention is, but you have to consider what would be the cost of not doing that intervention," said Dr. Francesco Rubino of New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Not only do doctors have the major goal of making sure more insurers hop on board with this, but they also want to raise awareness across the board about the effectiveness of weight loss surgery in treating type 2.

"Not many patients are informed by their physicians that if they are diabetic or have severe obesity surgery is an option they should consider. This doesn't happen all the time," Rubino said.

The IDF is pushing for weight loss surgery to be more widely studied in medical schools, and for primary care physicians to become more aware of the benefits.