Due to the steady increase in obesity rates, the incidence of type 2 diabetes is sharply on the rise in the US and abroad. In the past, weight loss surgery has not been sanctioned by diabetes experts, but it looks like the time has come for this to change.
At the 2nd Diabetes Surgery Summit (DSS-II), which is an international consensus conference composed of world leaders in the treatment of diabetes, clinicians for the first time have incorporated weight loss surgery as a essential mode of treatment for Type 2 diabetes.
Their goal is to set up global guidelines as to which patients would likely benefit from metabolic surgery. Basing their guidelines on numerous studies that have been published over the years, their recommendations include:
- Recommending surgery to Type 2 diabetics with a BMI over 40
- Recommending surgery Type 2 diabetics with a BMI of 35-40 when sugar inadequately controlled with lifestyle and medical therapy
- Considering surgery for Type 2 diabetics with a BMI of 30-35 when sugar inadequately controlled with lifestyle and medical therapy
