Weight loss and changes in use of anti-diabetic medication in obese type 2 diabetics following laparoscopic gastric banding

BACKGROUND: Interest in bariatric surgery is growing as an effective method for long-term metabolic control in morbidly obese patients with type 2 diabetes. We analyzed the weight loss and changes in use of diabetic medication in obese patients with type 2 diabetes treated with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). METHODS: From 1993 to 2005, 1791 morbid obese patients underwent LAGB at our institution. Of the 1791 patients, 394 (22%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus at baseline. Of the 394 patients with diabetes, 52 were receiving diabetic medication. The median follow-up period for the drug-treated diabetic patients was 3 years (range .25-9). RESULTS: The drug-treated diabetic patients were older (age 47.6 +/- 7.5 versus 37.5 +/- 10.7 years, P <.001), weighed more (body mass index 49.1 +/- 9.5 versus 45.6 +/- 7.5 kg/m(2), P 0.001), and were more frequently affected by co-morbidities than the nondiabetic patients at surgery. The percentage of excess weight loss 1 year after surgery was less (32.4% +/- 14.1% versus 41.1% +/- 19.9%, P <.01) for the drug-treated diabetic patients than for the nondiabetic patients. This difference was maintained for 5 years of follow-up. A significant decline occurred in the use of both oral diabetic medication and insulin after surgery. Of the 52 patients treated with oral antidiabetic medication at baseline, 33 required oral antidiabetic medication at the end of follow-up. Of the 6 patients who also required insulin at baseline, 2 did so at the end of follow-up. The use of diabetic medication had increased in 4 patients (7.7%), was unchanged in 12 (23.1%), had decreased in 17 (32.7%), and was suspended in 19 (36.5%) of 52 patients. CONCLUSION: The amount of weight loss after LAGB was less in drug-treated diabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients. However, LAGB was associated with a sustained reduction in the use of diabetic medication.