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Are you overweight? Do you struggle with diabetes?
Weight loss surgery has become increasingly popular over the past few years. In fact, 1 in every 100 Americans has had gastric bypass surgery. What about its efficacy in reducing diabetes, though?
Can a Lap-Band Help to Treat Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your pancreas, causing insulin production to stop. This could possibly cause blood sugar levels to spike dangerously high. Insulin injections twice a day are required for people with type 1 diabetes.
However, some recent studies claimed that diabetics see an improved lifestyle after undergoing lap-band surgery. Lap-band surgery is a form of bariatric surgery that reduces appetite, food intake, and blood sugar levels. This can potentially reduce a type 1 diabetics’ insulin intake and help them to maintain control over the disease.
Will Lap-Band Surgery Help with Type 2 Diabetes?
Lifestyle factors such as a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle might increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It’s also linked to excess weight.
Lap-band surgery can help these individuals because it helps to regulate appetite and reduce cravings for unhealthy foods. It can also improve the metabolism of carbohydrates, which will in turn lead to better glucose regulation.
Changes to Insulin Requirements After Lap-Band Surgery
After undergoing lap-band surgery, patients often experience changes to their insulin requirements. Some patients require less insulin than before they underwent the procedure, partly due to the weight loss that follows the procedure.
The reasoning behind this shift is unclear. One theory suggests that the stomach shrinks after lap-band surgery, making it easier for the patient to digest food. As a result, more nutrients enter the bloodstream, and insulin is utilized much more efficiently.
Other theories suggest that the reduced size of the stomach causes the release of hormones called incretins. These hormones stimulate the pancreas, which then produces more insulin.
If you have diabetes, you may be wondering if and why you should consider lap-band surgery. Lap-band surgery can be a very effective treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes. If you are carrying some extra weight that you can’t shift, or if you suffer from type two diabetes, contact The Lap Band Center. We offer safe, reliable, and effective Lap-Band procedures to give you control over your diet and your food intake and help to change your life.
Contact us today to book a consultation.
