Bariatric surgery can put diabetes in remission although no one is sure exactly why this is so. Obesity and type II diabetes go together, obesity has been proven to cause diabetes but again the reason is unclear. An excess amount of belly fat is thought to hamper the body’s usage of insulin but this is just a theory.

Another theory is based on the fact that patients who lost weight as a result of bariatric surgery have much lower levels of circulating amino acids than those who lost weight through diet and exercise. It’s thought that the metabolic change signaled by the lover levels of  circulating amino acids is what put the diabetes in remission. However, since no one knows what causes diabetes, it is just a theory. As many people can stop their insulin before they have achieved any significant weight loss, it’s not even clear if the weight loss is putting diabetes in remission or it’s the surgery itself.

The important thing to remember is that diabetes has devastating side effects such as kidney failure, blindness and the potential to lose a limb to an infection. When lifestyle changes, prescription medication and insulin cannot control an obese person’s diabetes, bariatric surgery can be a lifesaver.

Remember, as soon as the weight comes back, so does the diabetes. Being off insulin is usually a good  incentive to stick with a healthy diet after the initial weight loss.