Type 2 diabetes is sometimes reversible, but the risks are very high

Dodging the silver bullet

Maybe you caught the fever. Or maybe you were strong enough to avoid it somehow.

It was pretty contagious around here. I’m talking about Mega Millions fever, of course. After all, who wouldn’t want to throw away a few bucks for a chance at $640 MILLION?

But we all know how the story ends…

Millions of people walk away a few dollars poorer and very, very few actually win.

The dream rarely pays off.

Unfortunately, it’s a lot like trying to reverse your type 2 diabetes with a silver bullet.

That dream hasn’t paid off for many people either. And now, it is turning into a nightmare. That’s because the newest mainstream recommendation to wipe out type 2 diabetes is to cut it out, sort of.

Yes, mainstream medicine is now attacking type 2 diabetes with a scalpel.

Enter the surgeon

Last year, a small UK study showed you could reverse type 2 diabetes with severe dietary restraints. In fact, several newly diagnosed patients who ate just 600 calories a day for two months went into complete remission.

That’s an extremely strict diet. And it’s one most people can’t stick to.

That’s why researchers are starting to turn to surgery.

In two new studies, researchers tested three types of surgery that actually change the size and shape of the stomach. (You probably know it as gastric bypass surgery.) All three forms were successful in getting diabetes patients into remission.

Plus, each of these surgeries produced far better results than intensive drug therapy.

Easy peasy, right?

But you knew there had to be a catch — and here it is: A few years ago, a U.S. government review showed that about four in 10 gastric bypass patients experience complications. Typical setbacks include abdominal hernias, infections, and digestive problems such as acid reflux, vomiting, and diarrhea.

A University of Arkansas study has also linked these neurological problems to gastric bypass: memory loss, cognitive decline, restricted movement, and progressive vision loss.

But most sobering is the death rate.

In a 2005 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers examined medical records for more than 16,000 gastric bypass patients. Five percent of men and 3 percent of women in the 35-44 age group died within one year of surgery. Death rates at one year after surgery were even higher in older age groups.

From acid reflux to memory loss to premature death, this is a daunting and complex set of side effects. The most likely culprit is nutrient absorption, which can prompt numerous health problems.

So as the mainstream starts pushing gastric bypass as the new silver bullet for type 2 diabetes, make sure you and your loved ones bypass the recommendation.

Why go under the knife to trade one set of risks for another that’s just as bad — or worse?

Sources:
“Surgery or Medical Therapy for Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes?” New England Journal of Medicine, 3/26/12, nejm.org

“Weight-loss surgery effective against diabetes, studies show” Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 3/26/12, latimes.com

“Neurologic Complications of Gastric Bypass Surgery for Morbid Obesity” Neurology, Vol. 68, No. 21, 5/22/07, neurology.org

“A Controlled Study of Peripheral Neuropathy After Bariatric Surgery” Neurology, Vol. 63, No. 8, 10/26/07, neurology.org