Glycemic control in diabetic patients after bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Morbid obesity is associated with a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and weight loss is fundamental to improve glycemic control. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of weight reduction during the late postoperative period (> or = 12 months) after gastric bypass on the glycemic control of diabetic patients. METHODS: Fasting glycemia (glucose oxidase) and glycohemoglobin A1c (enzymatic fluorescence, reference value: 4-6%) were determined before and after surgery. Results were compared by the Student t-test for paired samples (P <0.05). RESULTS: 23 women and 8 men with diabetes, with a mean follow-up of 27.2 months and a mean age of 42.5 years (30-68), were studied. Before surgery, mean +/- SD weight, BMI, excess weight, glycemia and glycohemoglobin were 135.9+/-11.6 kg, 51.8+/-6.4 kg/m2, 68.3+/-14.5 kg, 173+/-71.2 mg/dl, and 7.4+/-1.9%, respectively. After surgery, mean weight, BMI, excess weight, percent weight loss, percent excess weight loss, glycemia and glycohemoglobin were 89.7+/-8.8 kg, 35+/-4.5 kg/m2, 24.6+/-11.6 kg, 32.6%+/-1.8 (12.6-46.5%), 64.7+/-18.3%, 98+/-17.3 mg/dl (P <0.01), and 5.4+/-1.0% (P <0.05), respectively. Oral anti-diabetic drug and/or insulin treatment was discontinued in 89.2% of the patients. After surgery, 90.3% of the patients maintained glycohemoglobin A1c levels <7.0%. CONCLUSION: Weight loss led to a significant and sustained improvement of glycemic control in these patients submitted to bariatric surgery.

Diabetes mellitus e cirurgia bariátrica: efeito da redução do peso no controle glicêmico / Diabetes mellitus and bariatric surgery: the effect of weight reduction on glicemic control

Fez-se uma análise prospectiva de 219 pacientes com obesidade mórbida, submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica entre 1996 e 2001, para estudar a prevalência e evolução do diabetes mellitus (DM). Trinta e nove pacientes (17,8%) do grupo eram diabéticos. O seguimento pós-operatório mostrou: melhor controle metabólico (glicemia em jejum e glicohemoglobina): 37 pacientes (94,8%) passaram a ser controlados somente com dieta: em um paciente (2,56%), a insulina pôde ser substituída por antidiabético oral e, em um paciente (2,56%), manteve-se o uso de insulina, porém em menor dosagem. O melhor controle do diabetes ocorreu entre 15 dias e 12 meses após a cirurgia (média de 3,4 meses). Naquele momento, o índice de massa corporal, a porcentagem de perda de peso e a porcentagem de perda de excesso de peso corporal demonstravam respectivamente: 43,5kg/m2 ± 7,15 (28,1-61,5); 16,8% (5,0-30,2%) e 30,6% (8,0-60,6%). Conclusões: 1) A prevalência de DM neste estudo foi de 17,8%; 2) A perda de peso melhorou o controle metabólico; 3) A redução média de 16,8% do peso corporal foi suficiente para melhorar o controle metabólico.

A prospective analysis of 219 patients with morbid obesity submitted to bariatric surgery between 1996 and 2001 was made to study the prevalence and evolution of the diabetes mellitus (DM). Thirty-nine patients (17.8%) met the criteria for type 2 DM. The follow-up showed better metabolic control (fasting plasma glucose and glycohemoglobin): 37 patients (94.8%) with diet alone, 1 patient (2.56%) changed insulin for oral drug and 1 patient (2.56%) continued with a lower dose of insulin. Treatment was modified between 15 days and 12 months after surgery (3.4 months). At that time: BMI 43.5 kg/m2± 7.15 (28.1-61.5), % loss body weight 16.8% (5-30.2), % loss excess body weight 30.6% (8- 60.6). Conclusion: 1) The prevalence of DM was 17.8%. 2) The weight loss improved metabolic control. 3) Reduction of 16.8% of body weight was sufficient to improve metabolic control.