Diabetes and the band

[stormy]

I read a report that 64 % of people who get the band that have type 2 diabetes after getting they band, no longer have to be on insulin. I think I read it right. Has anyone here had that happened. I ask because there is this woman at work. She is on shots and she is not doing well. Her sugar has been as high as 600. She states that she had a had time sticking to a diet. She knows that it is what she should do but she tries and diet and then when it does not work, it makes her depressed and then she eats unwisely. I told her about my experience and how the band has helped me to make better choices and how my whole way of looking at food has changed. I suggested that she talk to her dr about the band after I read this report. I told her about this site as well if she had questions. She has kaiser so she is not sure they will approve. She states that she has lost over 30 pounds and is really trying. I have seen her go through so much. It is truely sad. Now she has a sore on her foot that they are going to have to cut open, she is scarred of losing her toe. I really hope the band is an option for her, I dont want to see her die, that would be heart breaking. All I could tell her is how much this has changed my life. I dont think of food the way i used to. I use exersise as a way to deal with my stress, instead of eating. I choose to eat healthier foods. I could not tell her enough about this. I know it is not a miracle worker but I think for me anyway, it is a tool that I am definatly using to my benefit. I hope I was right giving her my information and advise on the issue. Has anyone here had diabetes and had changes in their sugar because of the band?

[louisem]

I'm not an expert, but I have read that when in comes to treating type 2 diabetes bypass surgery actually has a bigger effect due to the change in how nutrients (including sugars) are absorbed. That said any weightloss will help but the biggest thing is that she consult with her doctor to weight the risks of surgery as well as which surgery is best for her. Personally I can't imagine having bypass surgery but if it was a question between bypass and losing a foot I'd take the surgery.

My opinion though, is that when someone has a severe chronic illness the only way to find the right answer for them is for them to consult their doctor directly. There's no right answer for everyone and the more compromised your health is the more important it is to make sure you have all the facts.

I hope she is feeling better soon.

Louise

[IrishRN]

I read a report that 64 % of people who get the band that have type 2 diabetes after getting they band, no longer have to be on insulin. I think I read it right. Has anyone here had that happened. I ask because there is this woman at work. She is on shots and she is not doing well. Her sugar has been as high as 600. She states that she had a had time sticking to a diet. She knows that it is what she should do but she tries and diet and then when it does not work, it makes her depressed and then she eats unwisely. I told her about my experience and how the band has helped me to make better choices and how my whole way of looking at food has changed. I suggested that she talk to her dr about the band after I read this report. I told her about this site as well if she had questions. She has kaiser so she is not sure they will approve. She states that she has lost over 30 pounds and is really trying. I have seen her go through so much. It is truely sad. Now she has a sore on her foot that they are going to have to cut open, she is scarred of losing her toe. I really hope the band is an option for her, I dont want to see her die, that would be heart breaking. All I could tell her is how much this has changed my life. I dont think of food the way i used to. I use exersise as a way to deal with my stress, instead of eating. I choose to eat healthier foods. I could not tell her enough about this. I know it is not a miracle worker but I think for me anyway, it is a tool that I am definatly using to my benefit. I hope I was right giving her my information and advise on the issue. Has anyone here had diabetes and had changes in their sugar because of the band?

wow.. I hope she is feeling better. I am diabetic but not on insulin, only oral meds. My Dr says once my wt comes down and blood sugar in the am and after meals is in good limits... the meds will be gone. I hope she can be a candidate for the band so she can start living a life she so deserves.

[Smiley]

I heard 3 or 4 people at my group meeting yesterday say that they were either able to significantlyoe is n reduce their diabetic meds or go off of them completely after losing weight with the band. Losing a toe is not something that she will want to happen. My aunt started out by losing one or two toes a year and two years ago she lost her left leg and needs to lose her right one. Her issues started out as sores on the bottom of her feet also. At one point she had a thumb tac in the bottom of one of her feet and couldn't even feel it because she had lost all feeling in that foot. I seriously doubt my aunt could even have this surgery now as she has such a hard time healing, which is a side effect of diabetes.

My Grandma now eats Fiber One (I am pretty sure this it) cereal for breakfast each morning and has seen her blood sugar drop significantly since switching from plain Cheerios to the Fiber One. I had the Fiber One for breakfast at her house a few weeks and it was suprisingly pretty good, but then everything taste better at Grandma's house. You might mention this cereal to your friend as a potential way to help reduce her sugar levels.

Both my grandma and aunt are insulin dependent. As I am so much like both of them and my father, I decided to try and ward off a diabetic diagnosis and other issues by having the lap band surgery - so far so good!

[DeannaMiller]

I read a report that 64 % of people who get the band that have type 2 diabetes after getting they band, no longer have to be on insulin. I think I read it right. Has anyone here had that happened. I ask because there is this woman at work. She is on shots and she is not doing well. Her sugar has been as high as 600. She states that she had a had time sticking to a diet. She knows that it is what she should do but she tries and diet and then when it does not work, it makes her depressed and then she eats unwisely. I told her about my experience and how the band has helped me to make better choices and how my whole way of looking at food has changed. I suggested that she talk to her dr about the band after I read this report. I told her about this site as well if she had questions. She has kaiser so she is not sure they will approve. She states that she has lost over 30 pounds and is really trying. I have seen her go through so much. It is truely sad. Now she has a sore on her foot that they are going to have to cut open, she is scarred of losing her toe. I really hope the band is an option for her, I dont want to see her die, that would be heart breaking. All I could tell her is how much this has changed my life. I dont think of food the way i used to. I use exersise as a way to deal with my stress, instead of eating. I choose to eat healthier foods. I could not tell her enough about this. I know it is not a miracle worker but I think for me anyway, it is a tool that I am definatly using to my benefit. I hope I was right giving her my information and advise on the issue. Has anyone here had diabetes and had changes in their sugar because of the band?

I had a blood sugar level just short of being declared Type 2 Diabetic back in February. I was banded May 21st and have lost 26 pounds so far. I had bloodwork done last week and my blood sugar level is almost back to the normal range. Same thing with my cholesterol. It went from 262 down to 181 for the same time period. Just that 26 pounds has made a dramatic difference in my becoming healthy again. I wish I had gotten the band a year ago when I was first looking into it. Hope this helps!

[AngelaAnn]

I was also borderline type two diabetes before I had the band. It was one of the reasons I got it. My fasting sugar is down to 92 which is in the normal range now. My main drop has been in body fat. from 49.9% to 31% as of last week. It's amazing how much of a difference just dropping some weight can do.

[Lindsay]

.....is it weird that i don't know anyone that has diabetes?

Just a very obvious difference between the USA & Canada!

[my_friend_amber]

I read a report that 64 % of people who get the band that have type 2 diabetes after getting they band, no longer have to be on insulin. I think I read it right. Has anyone here had that happened. I ask because there is this woman at work. She is on shots and she is not doing well. Her sugar has been as high as 600. She states that she had a had time sticking to a diet. She knows that it is what she should do but she tries and diet and then when it does not work, it makes her depressed and then she eats unwisely. I told her about my experience and how the band has helped me to make better choices and how my whole way of looking at food has changed. I suggested that she talk to her dr about the band after I read this report. I told her about this site as well if she had questions. She has kaiser so she is not sure they will approve. She states that she has lost over 30 pounds and is really trying. I have seen her go through so much. It is truely sad. Now she has a sore on her foot that they are going to have to cut open, she is scarred of losing her toe. I really hope the band is an option for her, I dont want to see her die, that would be heart breaking. All I could tell her is how much this has changed my life. I dont think of food the way i used to. I use exersise as a way to deal with my stress, instead of eating. I choose to eat healthier foods. I could not tell her enough about this. I know it is not a miracle worker but I think for me anyway, it is a tool that I am definatly using to my benefit. I hope I was right giving her my information and advise on the issue. Has anyone here had diabetes and had changes in their sugar because of the band?

One of the deciding factors for me in getting banded was finding out that I was "pre-diabetic" which is to say that my sugar levels were in that dangerous zone that, if I had continued the way I was going, would have resulted in Type II Diabetes. I am happy to say that about 2 weeks ago I had a whole new work-up done and my lab results came back that my blood suger levels are in the completely normal range. I chalk it ALL up to the band and the weight that I have lost and the changes I have made in lifestyle due to it. Please pass this on to your co-worker and tell her that I have personally experienced the difference and that it's achievable for her as well!

[stormy]

I will share all your great information. I had her watch Dr Ortiz video's today. She just has to talk to Kaiser to see if they will approve it, but I have also been telling her alot about my trip to Mexico, she she knows she has options.

[LisaLaw]

.....is it weird that i don't know anyone that has diabetes?

Just a very obvious difference between the USA & Canada!

That is definately something to ponder and interesting.

So that just means Canadians get fat, miserable and obese like us and don't get diabetes?

I wonder if it is all the fast food and high carbs we get addicted to down here...something to think about.

[BrandNewDawn]

LisaLaw,

I'm just curious by nature so you know I had to Google Canada+Diabetes and it looks to me like Canada is just as concerned about their expanding number of diabetes cases as the good old USA. So, I guess that means some of the fat, miserable and obese Canadians do get diabetes.

I thought most countries had fast food and highly addictive carbs now!! But, the only place I have ever visited in Canada was British Columbia and that was 16 years ago so I have little experience with all things Canadian!! Seems like a really pretty place though.

Dawn

[LisaLaw]

LisaLaw,

I'm just curious by nature so you know I had to Google Canada+Diabetes and it looks to me like Canada is just as concerned about their expanding number of diabetes cases as the good old USA. So, I guess that means some of the fat, miserable and obese Canadians do get diabetes.

I thought most countries had fast food and highly addictive carbs now!! But, the only place I have ever visited in Canada was British Columbia and that was 16 years ago so I have little experience with all things Canadian!! Seems like a really pretty place though.

Dawn

I was more amused by Lindsays comment about never hearing about Canadians getting diabetes - just us Americans