I am curious to know if there are others out there, like me, who have diabetes and are considering or have the band...

I have been reading everything I can possibly find, and I am learning so much. I just cant seem to find much about diabetes and the band.

I am 24 old was diagnosed with diabetes just over a year ago (type 2, low producing pancras, on insulin). I have heard that people with diabetes have had huge success after lap band surgery, and have really improved their health.

Since starting on insulin, I have gained about 20 lbs in less that 6 months, and my cholesteral is not good... If I keep this up, who knows what will be next. I need to do something before it is too late. I want to have children someday, and I want to be around long enough to see them through their lives too...

My husband is not thrilled with the idea:think, but I feel that my issues (mentally and medically) are putting serious strain on my marriage.

I am curious how others with diabetes have been effected, and how you handled the diet while trying to keep blood sugar readings in range. Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences with me. This site has truly given me hope for life. Thank you, it means a lot!

My Godmother has had diabetis since she is a child and she just had the gastric, she is doing great and the doctors seem to think she will get off of insulin soon. she wanted the lapband but her body rejects certain objects so thats why she went with the Gastric. She hardly takes any insulin now.

<p>It is vey common for people to get completely off their diabetes meds after wls. I had been on diabetes meds for 20 years, took several a day and still had unstable readings (and yes, they made me gain weight)...........within 6 mo. after lapband, I was off all my diabetes meds. I'm now 18 mo out and my sugar is very stable. BTW....I'm also off my blood pressure meds after 30 years and several other meds also (I was taking 11 scripts at time of surgery....now I'm on none at all<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/clap2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Clap2" smilieid="217" class="inlineimg" />).</p>

Hi Arin,

I was diagnosed about a year ago. Found it while getting all my pre surgical testing done. I was devestated. Went on 500mg of Glucovance 2x day. I would say about three weeks post surgery, I was being over medicated, with extremely low blood sugars. Most recently, my endo. pulled me off meds, b/c I was too low ALL of the time. So now my sugars are a bit 'higher', averaging about 124 - 138. But I'm better to be too sweet than not.

It's not the band that makes the diabetes 'go away'. It's the weight loss that helps.

My surgeon took me off both my meds (glucophage and Byetta) the day before surgery and I have not had to go back on them yet! I'm still watching my sugars in case they go back up but all looks good now!!!

I dont have diabetes or know much about it... I do know I am walking in a 5k for Diabetes this weekend with a lap band group and was told 84% of diabetics who get the lap band have their diabetes cured?

Best of luck to you on your decision!

I was considered pre-diabetic. I controlled it with just diet (and very little exercise). Now one year after surgery, my A1C test has me as normal (testing like I never had it) and my cholesterol is 155 with my bad cholesterol under 100 for the first time since I started taking cholesterol meds in 2002. If my number keeps dropping I will probably come off the meds for that all together, we will see, unfortunately my cholesterol is more from genes than anything else.

Thank you all for sharing. I am taking 5 injections per day, and it is not fun. If there is a chance I could reduce the amount of insulin I take, or get rid of it altogether, I would be so happy. I go to my Endo on Monday and I will discuss the possibiliy of the band with her. Although I am scared, I feel that the band may give me a chance to live a better and healthier life. I feel like I have more health problems than my parents some days...Thank you all again! Best of luck to you all!!:eek:

I feel like I have more health problems than my parents some days...Thank you all again! Best of luck to you all!!:eek:

I know what you mean Arin.....I did too. I think this is the start of a new, healthy life for us!!!

i was banded on 9-11 i was taking 100 units atime 2times a day 70/30 now since surgury only taking 30to 40 units, check blood sugars regular i go by what my level is , if you need to ask any questions feel free

Arin,

If you are worried about your blood sugar levels getting too low, I wouldn't worry. The medicines should keep it level even when you are in the diet stages.

Have been type 2 diabetic for 8 years...was maxed out on Metformin, also on avandia, glimerpiride, byetta and lantus injections.

I had surgery 3 weeks ago and had to go off the metformin 2 days before surgery as it interferes with the anathesia...my diabetes doctor said to stay off it post -op and see him afterwards. my surgar levels are normal now and also am off of the byetta.

My diabetes doctor had 13 patients before me who had the band and ALL are off their diabetes meds, high blood pressure and sleep apnea meds.

Just think, I've been spending between $250-300 a month just for diabetes supplies and meds co-pay that I'll be able to use!

I tired of the yo-yo dieting that did not help the diabetes.

Hopefully, now it's under my control.

Good luck with your decision.

The more I am reading the more excited I get to talk to my Doctor on Monday. I am on about 45 units Levemir x2 daily and meal time injections of Novalog, usually between 10 and 15 units depending on what I am eating. I am still producing insulin on my own, so there is a good chance that if I lose some of the excess weight, I will be able to use more of what I make naturally without the extra! I am feeling so encouraged by everyone who is sharing!! I just got some labs back yesterday, and my A1C was 6.0! First time in a year it has been normal. Thank you all. I will keep you posted on my journey to the band!!!

A1c 6.0 That Is Great. Keep It Up.

There have been some studies regarding diabetes and the Band.

Obes Surg. 2004 Nov-Dec;14(10):1335-42.Links

Effect of Lap-Band-induced weight loss on type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Ponce J, Haynes B, Paynter S, Fromm R, Lindsey B, Shafer A, Manahan E, Sutterfield C.

Dalton Surgical Group, P. C. and Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton, GA 30720, USA. jponce@dalton.net

BACKGROUND: Severe obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Improvement in these comorbidities after surgically-induced weight loss has been documented, and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is an effective weight loss operation. METHODS: Of 840 patients who underwent Lap-Band, data are available in 402 out of 413 patients whose surgery took place at >/= 1 year ago. Preoperative and follow-up data were studied retrospectively to examine the effect of Lap-Band-induced weight loss on diabetes and hypertension. RESULTS: Of 413 patients with at least 1 year postoperative follow-up, 53 (12.8%) were taking medications for type 2 diabetes preoperatively and 189 (45.7%) were on antihypertensive medications. 66% (n=35) of diabetic patients were also hypertensive. Resolution of diabetes was observed in 66% at 1-year and 80% at 2-year follow-up. HbA1c dropped from 7.25% (5.6-11.0, n=53) preoperatively to 5.58% (5.0-6.2, n=15) at 2 years after surgery. Hypertension resolved in 59.8% and 74% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Percent excess weight loss (%EWL) was lower for diabetic patients than for our cohort population (39.2% vs 41.2% at 1 year, 46.7% vs 54.2% at 18 months, and 52.6% vs 63.3% at 2 years, respectively). Patients in whom diabetes was improved but not resolved had lower %EWL than did those whose diabetes went into remission (27.0% at 1 year and 26.5% at 2 years). Patients with the shortest duration of diabetes (<5 years) and better weight loss after surgery achieved higher resolution rates. CONCLUSIONS: Dramatic improvement in - and frequent resolution of - diabetes and hypertension have been observed as a result of weight loss after Lap-Band surgery.

PMID: 15603648 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Diabetes Care. 2005 Nov;28(11):2703-9.Click here to read Links

Laparoscopic gastric banding prevents type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension and induces their remission in morbid obesity: a 4-year case-controlled study.

Pontiroli AE, Folli F, Paganelli M, Micheletto G, Pizzocri P, Vedani P, Luisi F, Perego L, Morabito A, Bressani Doldi S.

Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Cattedra di Medicina Interna, Ospedale San Paolo, via a di Rudini, 8, 20142 Milano, Italy. antonio.pontiroli@unimi.it

OBJECTIVE: Lifestyle modifications and pharmacological interventions can prevent type 2 diabetes in obese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. The aim of this study was to compare laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and conventional diet (No-LAGB) in the prevention (primary intervention study; 56 vs. 29 patients) and remission (secondary intervention study; 17 vs. 20 patients) of type 2 diabetes and hypertension in grade 3 obesity in a 4-year study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The subjects (n = 122; age 48.5 +/- 1.05 years; BMI 45.7 +/- 0.67 kg/m2) underwent a diagnostic workup, including psychological and psychiatric assessments, in preparation for the LAGB procedure. Of the 122 subjects, 73 had the surgery (LAGB group). The control group (No-LAGB group) consisted of the 49 subjects who refused the surgery but agreed to be followed up; 6 of these subjects dropped out by the 2nd year of the study, so that the final number of patients was 73 and 43 in the LAGB and No-LAGB groups, respectively. All patients had a yearly visit and oral glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: From baseline to the end of the 4-year follow-up, BMI decreased from 45.9 +/- 0.89 at baseline to 37.7 +/- 0.71 kg/m2 in the LAGB group and remained steady in the No-LAGB group (from 45.2 +/- 1.04 to 46.5 +/- 1.37 kg/m2), with no significant differences between the primary and secondary intervention groups. In the primary intervention study, five of the No-LAGB subjects (17.2%) and none of the LAGB subjects (0.0%; P = 0.0001) progressed to type 2 diabetes; in the secondary intervention study, type 2 diabetes remitted in one No-LAGB patient (4.0%) and seven LAGB patients (45.0%; P = 0.0052). Hypertension occurred in 11 No-LAGB patients (25.6%) and 1 LAGB patient (1.4%; P = 0.0001) and remitted in 1 No-LAGB (2.3%) and 15 LAGB patients (20.5%; P = 0.0001). A study of body mass composition revealed a significant reduction of fat mass and a transitory, but not significant, decrease of fat-free mass in LAGB patients. CONCLUSIONS: In morbid obesity, sustained and long-lasting weight loss obtained through LAGB prevents the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension and decreases the prevalence of these disorders.

PMID: 16249543 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]