Short-term effect of gastric bypass in obese diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of gastric bypass on blood glucose levels and the use of antidiabetic medication in obese patients with diabetes.
METHODS: We carried out a retrospective cohort study with 44 obese patients with DM2, from 469 patients undergoing gastric bypass from December 2001 to March 2009. The primary endpoints evaluated were fasting glucose and the need for antidiabetic medication.
RESULTS: The study population consisted of ten (22.7%) men and 34 (77.3%) women, with a mean age of 45.3 (±8.23) years and a body mass index of 40.9 (±5.03) kg/m². The average time to progression of DM2 was 63.6 (±60.9) months. Of the 40 patients who used medication to control type 2 diabetes, 20 (50%) had their medication discontinued at discharge and 13 (32.5%), until nine months later. In one patient it was not possible to evaluate the use of medication, this being the only exception. Insulin was suspended in ten (100%) patients who used it, six (60%) at discharge. Fasting plasma glucose levels decreased throughout the study period (p <0.05) when compared with preoperative values, and values below 100mg/dl were achieved within seven to nine months.
CONCLUSION: Obese patients with DM2 undergoing gastric bypass showed improved glycemic control and reduced use of hypoglycemic agents in the short-term.