Mount Sinai South Nassau presents:

TRUTH IN MEDICINE

A: Yes. A recent study conducted by Cleveland Clinic shows that weight loss surgery has helped many obese patients with type 2 diabetes get their blood sugar to healthy levels and to no longer require any diabetes medicines, including insulin.

Being overweight increases the likelihood of many health conditions, including Diabesity — type 2 diabetes caused by obesity. Type 2 diabetes causes blood glucose (or sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin properly, in a condition called “insulin resistance.”

Why does weight loss surgery work? One of the main reasons is that it leads to weight loss. Weight loss decreases insulin resistance, allowing the body’s own insulin to do its job better.

However, like any other medical procedure, weight loss surgery does carry risks. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of surgery and what type of weight loss surgery may help treat your diabetes.