Sunday, April 20, 2008

Gastric Bypass Surgery Helps Cure Diabetes

Many people have had gastric bypass surgery to overcome obesity, but scientists have discovered that the operation can have another, unexpected benefit: obese patients who had diabetes no longer have the disease soon after they have the surgery. In some cases, the diabetes goes into remission immediately.

And as a report on the April 20th "60 Minutes" details, gastric bypass surgery, or bariatric surgery, can have a positive effect on obesity-related cancers, too.

Scientists interviewed in the report said that the diabetes remission might be due to the fact that part of the small intestine is removed during gastric bypass surgery, and that portion of the intestine may play a role in causing diabetes.

You can find out more information at the Web sites of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery and the Diabetes Surgery Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell.

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