At 52, what lifestyle changes to follow weight loss surgery?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am considering gastric surgery, but I need some honest answers. I am a 51-year-old with 5'9", height. My weight is 342 pounds with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes despite taking four different medications. My A1C (glycosylated haemoglobin) is 9.2, blood pressure averages 162/95. I have developed sleep apnea so severe that my wife sleeps in another room because of my snoring. Walking from my car to my office leaves me breathless. My father died of a heart attack at 54 years of age. My doctor says I am heading down the same path. Diet programs work temporarily, but I always regain the weight. My knees hurt constantly.

Can weight loss surgery really reverse my diabetes?
What are the complications I can expect?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Due to your weight, glycosylated haemoglobin (A1c), severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure, mobility issues, and strong family history, you need bariatric or metabolic surgery for weight loss.

Metabolic surgery can reverse type 2 diabetes. It is effective for patients like you, with poorly controlled diabetes despite multiple medications. This surgery can:

Normalize blood sugar levels within days to weeks, even before major weight loss occurs.
Up to 80 percent of patients go into diabetes remission (off medications, normal A1C).
It also improves insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammation.

Doctors can perform different surgeries like,

Gastric bypass surgery, which is highly effective for diabetes, reroutes food to bypass part of the small intestine.
Sleeve gastrectomy removes a portion of the stomach; simpler but still highly effective. This leads to substantial weight loss, A1C reduction, improved blood pressure, and sleep apnea resolution in many patients.

You will require a hospital stay of one to two days. Resuming normal activities can take 2 to 4 weeks. Regarding your diet, you will gradually move from liquids to soft foods and then to solid foods over the course of a few weeks. Additionally, lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements will be necessary, particularly if you have undergone bypass surgery.

Many patients report that the toughest phase is the first month, but it tends to get easier after that, especially as you start losing weight and regaining energy.

No surgery is risk-free, but here are some complications related to this,

Short-term risks are bleeding, leakage, or infection.
Nutrient deficiencies.
Bowel changes.
Possible weight regain (though often much less than pre-surgery).

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.