does the sleeve conquer the diabetes and other illnesses?

[merrowl]

I had my modified sleeve 12/2 and my BS have gone down a lot. Instead of 300-400 I average around 120. BP went down also. We will always be a diabetic but with the surgery at least we can control it and live a lot longer. Keep up the good work

[itsmytime]

I'm newly diagnosed diabetic type 2 and I hope this surgery resolves my diabetes. I am non-insulin dependent right now but I know if I don't do something, they will be out of control sooner or later. I want to get this in check. I'm only 35! My Uncle was in his 50's before he got diabetes. I'm not even that overweight. Granted, I definitely am overweight enough though lol. I am so happy to hear the success stories!!!

[merrowl]

Sorry it has taken me so long to respond but I have been busy. I had what was called a modified sleeve. This was done to control my diabetes. Before surgery my AIC was 11.7. Three weeks later it is down to 8.5 and still going down. My sugars were 300-400 and now 89-130. At this time I am still on my medication but hope to get off some of it as soon as my A1C drops below 6. Keep me informed and I will give you all the help I can.

[merrowl]

My sleeve (modified to control BS and BP) was 12/2. I still have some spikes in my BS but they are not in teh 300-400 as before. I am now in the 90-180's. I am still on pills but not nearly as many as before. A lot of people say they are no longer a diabetic but once you are diaganosed as diabetic you will always be one. Some just have better control. Once you go back to old eating habits (which I DO NOT recommend) you may find that your sugars may go up again. Don't let it discuraged you though. I am happy I had it done because now I have a chance to stay alive and watch my grandkids grow. Good luck.

[Kylady1975]

Well I must rrport. 6 Weeks after surgery and my suvars ard under control. Still some meds but no insulin anx half my other BS medicine. Bllood pteasjre is way down to perfect. Now heres the thing. My pain in my feet is gone but guess why . Cokes,sodas. Yes . When I stoped drinking sodas mine was coke zero or diet Dr prpper my pain disappered. I have read where it is that bad but im living proof it almost put me in a wheelchair. I still have aches and pains but nothing like what I dd haave.

[Punkypoo]

Did you stop your insulin cold turkey or step down dosing? I am on insulin and oral meds.

[justme1]

I was on an insulin pump now am using a sliding scale with injections...some days I don't need insulin at all.

[TomCat3367]

I was on insulin prior to my surgery in April and shortly after it was no longer necessary. I was normal for about 6 months then it started to rise again to the point i had to start oral medication again. It is normal now (with oral drugs) and i am below my target weight eating smartly but not very much. I am trying to gain some back the right way and never thought i would ever be trying to gain weight. I was told that it might come back to some degree so i never said i was cured just in remission. Still it was the best thing that i could have done for my health. I just hate buying clothes over again. Ha!

[boricuafever]

good luck i hope you reach your gold .

[ritamae]

2 weeks after surgery I quit taking insulin, and i went for a follow up with my endocrinologist 2 weeks ago and she said I no longer had to see her!! if I keep maintaining what I am doing

[Heather Honey]

I had a liver of an alcoholic but do not drink. I had fatty deposits under my skin on my forehead and the only other person I had seem with such things, was a heavy drinker!

I am two weeks out of surgery and for the first time in five years they have gone. My skin looks so pink and healthy. As I have food allergies, the food I ate was putting my liver under considerable stress. Now I eat practically nothing and my liver is functioning much better from the obvious signs.

I still take my milk thistle tablets as I guess there is still some repairing to do but I cannot believe how well I feel from not eating.

My blood pressure is also back to a normal range so the BP tablets have gone in the bin too!

So, even other health issues can be corrected with the sleeve.

Good luck with yours,
Gal xx

I, too, am a non drinker with a fatty liver. I believe that the medications we are given do not help matters either. I couldn't understand why I should have one, especially as, even though I was overweight (and 'growing' by the year), I ate healthily. In fact, my daughter's boyfriend is studying to be a personal trainer, and his opinion of my eating was that I ate healthier than most people. I have not heard blood results of how my liver is faring since the op, but expect it should be on the mend with the smaller quantities it has to process.... Oh yes, and don't forget, it's not only what we eat that our liver has to process, it's everything else that we breathe in (pollutants, chemicals, fumes from paints and cleaning products, etc), and things that enter our bodies via the pores of our skin (even cosmetics, body cleansing products, shampoos, etc), so poor old Mr liver has alot to contend with coming at it from all directions.

Was at the endocrinologist's on Friday, they had not seen me since before the op so were duly impressed with my progress to date and the reduction in my meds to date. For those who have not seen elsewhere, since my op I have stopped taking Diamicron (2 per day) altogether, immediately after having the op; stopped taking Lasix (a fluid tablet); halved my Atacand Plus (a blood pressue tab) from 32/12.5mg to 16/12.5 (and the way I felt this morning, all woozy and shaky, may soon end up going back to straight Atacand 8mg!); halved my Somac (reflux tabs) from 40mg to 20mg. Dr Martin said I could go off them altogether, but I still get that reflux burn, so am weaning myself off with a half strength dose, and sometimes trying every other day without them, but not always successful and give in and have one by evening. The chemist said that sometimes if one has been on reflux medication for any length of time (over 20 yrs for me), the body develops a dependency on it, even though it may not really need it, and kicks up a fuss if you try and take yourself off it. Anyway, the latest reduction in meds is my Diaformin, have been taking 2 twice daily, and as of Friday am now on 2 in the morning and one at night....and to think the first endo I saw this time last year wanted to put me on insulin!....good job I refused!!! And just in case you were wondering, the woozy, shaky feeling was not due to a diabetic hypo, as I took a reading before I got out of bed and that was OK, but the feeling continued even after getting up, so, from previous experience think the BP med is the culprit.
There was talk of them sending me for another sleep study to see if I could come off the CPAP machine for the sleep apnea, but that somehow got lost amongst everything else....something to bring up for discussion when I go back in June I suppose.

[Heather Honey]

That is my main thing also for this surgery is the horrid diebeties. I take 2000mg of metformin and take januvia and glipizide. also do sliding scale insulin. Here is a question for the ones that has been through this process. I have alot of let pain due to neuropathy. Once I loose some weight does that pain ease up. Like right now my feet feel as thou they are on fire. If that eases up any i will jump for joy. Only relief I had was cymbalta but unfortunalty it shot my bp up. Anyways. So glad you guys are doing so great. Gives me hope. Good luck and God bless.

Yes, the neuropathy!... At 5 months post op tomorrow, I regret to report that I still get the shooting pains in my toes and feet from time to time. Not sure if things will get better, it depends on who you listen to. Some reports say that once the damage is done it is irrepairable, yet others say that, in time, there will be healing. The naturopath at the the health food store told me to take mega doses of Vitamins C and B group, as well as zinc, on top of the multi-vitamin, as these mega doses are for healing in the case of diabetic neuropathy. Suppose if, in the first instance, one can prevent it from getting any worse, then it must be a good thing.

[Heather Honey]

Hello. I am new to this but I have been wanting to know some of the benefits of the sleeve compared to the bypass. Like with the bypass for some if they are a diabetic the diabetes disappears almost as soon as the surgery is over or shortly thereafter. I am trying to decide which to have..does the sleeve do the same thing for those of us who are diabetic?.....I would much rather do the sleeve if I can...I go for an appointment with my dr. next week and I would kinda like to know what ya'll think....Can someone answer this for me please? Thank you.

I notice that you posted this message back in 2010, so suppose by now you will have chosen your option. However, for anyone else who might have the same question... From what I've read/heard, the sleeve seems to be a better option in terms of you leading a more "normal" eating life post op, albeit much smaller portions. By that, I mean, you are still digesting and processing your food in the normal way, and therefore your body is extracting the nutrients it needs as it passes through your system. With the bypass, however, because of the way things are "wired up" I have read that it can be more likely that you may not get all the nutrients through your normal digestion process and could need to have injections so as not to become deficient. I think those of us who have had the sleeve op will agree that it is sometimes difficult to get all the nutrients we need, even though we are basically processing our food "normally".
It would, for me, anyway, be a major factor when considering which operation to have. I know that when I was considering the options it was either band or sleeve, but for the four years prior to actually having the procedure had been leaning heavily towards the band. Now, from what I have learned, it seems the band is not all that successful in many cases, and many former band patients are going back and having the sleeve. Also, as Dr Martin said when we asked him which would be the better one for me, given my health problems, etc, he said that if I really wanted to "smash the diabetes, the sleeve is the way to go". Good luck with it, whichever option you choose! : )

[Karen Dodge-Kelso]

I WAS a diabetic before my sleeve. The night before my surgery was the last time that I had to take insulin. Depending on what your individual goals are is the deciding factor between VSG or bypass. Personally, I was a private pay person and couldn't afford the bypass. When I attended the educational group meeting is when I learned of the sleeve. I opted for it rather then the band and am extremely glad I did.

[justme1]

Update...as of last Monday I am no longer on insulin!