Another Band Benefit!

[CalKev]

By Anne Harding Wed May 2, 12:29 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - After having "lap band" surgery for weight loss, men and women show large increases in sensitivity to the blood-sugar-regulating hormone insulin -- even if they remain obese -- a new study shows.

"They don't have to reach their ideal weight in order to make some pretty significant health improvements," Dr. Joan F. Carroll of the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, one of the study's authors, told Reuters Health.

Carroll reported the findings this week at the American Physiological Society's annual meeting in Washington, DC.

In the operation Carroll and her team are investigating, known medically as laparoscopic gastric banding surgery, an elastic band is placed around the stomach, restricting the amount of food the stomach can comfortably hold. Another procedure, surgical gastric bypass, has been shown to help reduce the body's resistance to insulin -- often a prelude to full-blown diabetes -- before major weight loss has taken place, but less is known about how lap band surgery affects insulin resistance.

To investigate, Carroll and her team have been following 37 lap band patients for up to one year. Those followed for six months have lost 23 kilograms (51 pounds), on average, while average weight loss for those who have been followed for a year is 34 kg (75 pounds).

Their level of insulin resistance had fallen by 60 percent after six months, she told Reuters Health, even though the patients remained clinically obese.

Given that resistance to insulin greatly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which has a number of other health consequences including heart disease and even amputations, "over the long term it's really a benefit for all the body systems," Carroll said.

[Kelly C]

Thank you, Kevin! This is what I'm planning on! To not have type 2 diabetes anymore!!!

Kelly C.

Banded 4/26/07

[GregNE]

I can report my blood sugar levels are much more controlled since being banded. Another dividend from my $10,000 band investment.

Thanks for the info Kevin!

[NoWorry]

Another procedure, surgical gastric bypass, has been shown to help reduce the body's resistance to insulin -- often a prelude to full-blown diabetes -- before major weight loss has taken place, but less is known about how lap band surgery affects insulin resistance.

The documentation provided by Dr. Rutledge, who performs the Mini-Gastric Bypass in Nevada, states: "Recently a sample of 358 patients from the series of 2,725 (13%) gastric bypass patients completed their follow up forms for analysis.... 17% percent of patients had diabetes at the time of surgery and 83% of diabetics resolved their diabetes following surgery." This seems to directly contradict the information quoted from Anne Harding and Reuters Health.

[Mischievous1]

The documentation provided by Dr. Rutledge, who performs the Mini-Gastric Bypass in Nevada, states: "Recently a sample of 358 patients from the series of 2,725 (13%) gastric bypass patients completed their follow up forms for analysis.... 17% percent of patients had diabetes at the time of surgery and 83% of diabetics resolved their diabetes following surgery." This seems to directly contradict the information quoted from Anne Harding and Reuters Health.

I'm really mystified here. Normally if I wait 5+ hours to eat, I am ready to "kill" until I get food into me, I get lightheaded etc...I am 6 days post op and have not had that feeling....why not? I'm eating a significant less amount of food, calories etc (not feeling much hunger) so was actual physical hunger releasing a "kill" hormone in me that since having a band placed and not feeling physical hunger that hormone is no longer being released? This can't be all in my head? Or am I just in a honeymoon phase with my band and this will pass and I will be ready to "kill" again??? Someone please explain this phenomenon to me?

thx,

Trina

ps. My husband is okay with this...LOL

[NoWorry]

I'm really mystified here. Normally if I wait 5+ hours to eat, I am ready to "kill" until I get food into me, I get lightheaded etc...I am 6 days post op and have not had that feeling....why not? I'm eating a significant less amount of food, calories etc (not feeling much hunger) so was actual physical hunger releasing a "kill" hormone in me that since having a band placed and not feeling physical hunger that hormone is no longer being released? This can't be all in my head? Or am I just in a honeymoon phase with my band and this will pass and I will be ready to "kill" again??? Someone please explain this phenomenon to me?

thx,

Trina

ps. My husband is okay with this...LOL

When I have a cold, a fever, or an illness of any kind, all my normal signals are absent. I can even feel stuffed after half a bowl of chicken noodle soup! Having surgery and your body going into recovery mode really should be no different. Your body is busy healing. Although, if you're really lucky, you may never feel like killing for food again.