Weight loss surgery is an option for people who are extremely overweight or obese. Many of these people hope to avoid or lessen the effects of serious health problems, including diabetes.
Significance
There is a strong link between obesity and diabetes; more than 90 percent of all newly diagnosed diabetics are overweight or obese, according to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery. Obesity can cause the body to respond poorly to insulin, resulting in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Benefits
Weight loss surgery has been found to be beneficial for patients with diabetes. MedlinePlus reports on a study that found that two years after receiving weight loss surgery, 85 percent of type 2 diabetics were able to stop taking their medications for diabetes.
Limitations
The effects of weight loss surgery on diabetes in part depend on how severe the diabetes is. Patients who need insulin injections for management of their diabetes are less likely to benefit, the New York Times explains, possibly due to the damage that has already been done to the pancreas.
