What are the benefits of gastric-bypass surgery for patients with diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a condition where the body cannot absorb sugar properly after a meal. Severely obese patients (those with a body mass index higher than 40) are at a higher risk of developing T2D. Bariatric surgery is one of the recommended treatments for severe obesity. One form of the surgery is called "Roux-en-Y gastric bypass" (RYGB). RYGB has been shown to reverse T2D in some patients. It is unclear, however, whether RYGB reduces the risk of early death among T2D patients.

This study investigated whether RYGB reduced the risk of early death among T2D patients. 2,428 obese patients (625 with T2D and 1,803 without) underwent RYGB between 2004 and 2015. The effects of RYGB were compared to an equal number of patients who did not undergo surgery. T2D patients were followed for an average of 5.8 years. 

Those with T2D at the time of surgery were 66% less likely to experience early death from any cause compared to the T2D patients who did not undergo surgery. Compared to T2D patients who did not undergo surgery, patients undergoing surgery were less likely to die from heart disease, lung conditions and diabetes. 

After 2 years, 38.6% of patients who underwent surgery were in complete remission (no sign of T2D) compared to 0.4% of those who did not undergo surgery. Remission was associated with a lower risk of early death.

This study concluded that RYGB was associated with a decreased risk of death due to cardiovascular, respiratory, or diabetes causes in obese patients with T2D.

Greater than 95% of subjects in this study were white. The results therefore may not apply to patients of different races. 

Consult your doctor on the best option for you.