American Diabetes Message Board

[shales]

I asked a question about WLS on the message board. Here is one of the answers I got. The other answers are in the same vein. (BTW, I did not say that wls was a cure for diabetes.)

SLAM ON THE BRAKES!!!!!! To my knowlegde there is no surgical cure for diabetes, but I do know of numerous bariatric surgeons who are killing women left and right with bariatric surgery. The FDA has recently released post study findings that show women dying of malnutrition after seven to ten years becasue their bodies no longre have the ability to scavenge nutrition from food. The original study, the one where the FDA approved the procedure, only tracked patient mortality to six years. I also know, first hand, at least three women who went back to their pre-surgical eating habits and simply gained all the weight back aftre stretching the new stomachs. Bariatric surgery is a money maker for some doctors, just like Phen-fen was. They prey on women who have body issues and tell them all sorts of lies about how their lives will improve. DO NOT HAVE THIS SURGERY without having done some independent research on it. Check out your doctor\'s file wiht the state medical board. Check with the county clerk and see how many times he\'s been sued, and on what grounds. what are his credentials (schools, training, etc.). Check with the diabetes assn and get some info from them. Ask your doctor for copies of the papers and research where this particular procedure was approved. Above all, don\'t have the surgery! AmyC

It never ceases to amaze me the lack of info out there. I guess I really can\'t expect someone without the problem to understand. After all, there are a lot of diseases out there that I don\'t have a clue about. this is the first time I have ever posted anything regarding wls on any non-wls supportive site... *maybe the last

Has anybody heard of recently released studies re the malnutrition?

shales
Pre-op

[PattyL]

People feel very strongly about this issue. They are adamant that they are right. They feel this way because their medical professionals also feel this way. I recently had a dialogue with the CDC and the ADA about surgery as a cure for diabetes type 2. They are like any other large organization, they move like a snail. I am not advocating surgery for all type 2 diabetics. I am saying patients have the right to be informed of all possible treatment options. The patient and their medical professionals can then decide on a course of treatment. Sounds logical to me but I don\'t believe it\'s going to happen.

The person who responded to your post has an irrational, very emotional viewpoint. She seems to confuse failed RNY\'s with the Jujeunal Bypass(sp) of the 1970\'s. It\'s quite a shock to learn that we(females only!) are dropping dead left and right from the surgery and subsequent malnutrition. Just a non scientific observation on my part, but the people I know who share these opinions are usually the ones who need the surgery the most and are afraid to do it or rationalize reasons why they \'can\'t\'. Sort of like being afraid to fly all your life. Also there are people in this world who like being ill. Sick, huh?

The only WLS people are reasonably familiar with is the RNY. It often fails to control or cure type 2 diabetes. The main reason it doesn\'t work is the vast majority of the procedures are proximal. Distal procedures have a much better chance of success. Doctors in the US don\'t seem to make the connection yet between degree of malabsorbtion and curing diabetes. Sometime in the future, that will change.

Meanwhile, Doctors in Greece, Spain And Italy are doing the DS/BPD daily and curing type 2 diabetes. With cash in hand, you could find a surgeon here willing to do the procedure. There\'s a lot of politics and money in this issue too. What if 50% of the people with type 2 elected to have surgery? That looks like a significant impact on the drug companies to me.

I heard Dr. Hess has a new paper coming out soon. I believe it is a 10 year study on post-op patients. I imagine there will be some good information in the paper.

Meanwhile, my husband and I are grateful every day for the surgery that made his diabetes history. He is feeling great and his 6 mo labs were perfect. No signs of malnutrition. If this woman\'s dire predictions were to come true sometime in the future; no big deal, the surgery is completely reversible. He hasn\'t lost much weight either. He had surgery with a BMI of 26 or 27 and his BMI is now 25. So far, Dr. Baltasar has a 100% success rate on this surgery! You take your chances with any surgery; for results like these, it was worth it! Every disease was incurable until someone discovered the cure.

[Kevin M]

i relate to what Patty says....
politics...and money...!!! and on top of that, just plain old ignorance..the truth can\'t be hidden.... slowed, twisted and
played down, but not hidden...in time more people will know about the DS, and get the facts straight....Kevin

[Menno]

Patty, wouldn\'t it be nice if you could share your husband\'s experience on that diabetes website and balance the scale a bit?

[mtennant]

Menno,

I love your new pic, you look fabulous

Mandy

[Menno]

Thank you, Mandy.