Obesity surgery may ‘cure’ diabetes for 15 years

CHICAGO (AP) — A study suggests that obesity surgery may keep diabetes in remission even after 15 years in some patients.

The study of obese diabetics in Sweden began with about 340 who had surgery and 260 treated with medication and lifestyle changes. Results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Long-term results were missing for more than half the patients who began the study and remission rates dropped off considerably. But still, 35 out of 115 patients remained diabetes-free 15 years after surgery. Also, 20 years after surgery, about 25 patients remained free of diabetes complications including eye and kidney problems.

Results were similar for three types of weight-loss surgery: gastric bypass, stomach banding and an operation that involves banding and stapling.

Previous research has found that weight-loss surgery is more effective than usual diabetes treatment at reversing the disease. The new results suggest the same thing but they aren’t conclusive because long-term data was missing for so many patients.

%@AP Links

255-c-14-(Lindsey Tanner, AP correspondent)-“reduce diabetes risk”-AP correspondent Lindsey Tanner reports doctors don’t know for sure how obesity surgery keeps diabetes in remission for years. (10 Jun 2014)

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253-c-15-(Lindsey Tanner, AP correspondent)-“about 20 years”-AP correspondent Lindsey Tanner reports a study suggests obesity surgery may keep diabetes in remission even after 15 years in some patients. (10 Jun 2014)

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254-c-15-(Lindsey Tanner, AP correspondent)-“shown so far”-AP correspondent Lindsey Tanner reports a study that suggests obesity surgery may keep diabetes in remission even after 15 years started out with about 340 patients who had surgery and 260 treated with medication and lifestyle changes. (10 Jun 2014)

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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