Among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, bariatric surgery with lifestyle intervention results in more disease remission than lifestyle intervention alone does, according to a study in JAMA Surgery.
Here are five insights:
1. Researchers assessed outcomes three years after treating 61 obese participants aged 25 to 55 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
2. Study participants were randomized into two groups. One group underwent an intensive lifestyle weight loss intervention for one year followed by a low-level lifestyle intervention for two years. The second underwent surgical treatments — Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding — followed by low-level lifestyle intervention in the second and third years.
3. Body mass index was less than 35 for 43 percent of participants.
4. Partial or complete type 2 diabetes mellitus remission was achieved by 40 percent of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients; and 29 percent of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding patients.
5. The use of diabetes medications was reduced more in the surgical groups than the lifestyle intervention–alone group.