The city’s leading bariatric surgeon Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, who has operated on more than 15,000 patients, said that 40 per cent of obese patients were found to be highly diabetic and were either on insulin or high dose of medicines
Representation pic. Pic/iStock
Type 2 diabetes can be put into remission through surgery coupled with a healthy lifestyle, an analysis by the city’s leading bariatric surgeon Dr Muffazal Lakdawala has revealed. Lakdawala, who has operated on more than 15,000 patients, said that 40 per cent of obese patients were found to be highly diabetic and were either on insulin or high dose of medicines. It has been found that post-surgery they are living the life of a non-diabetic person or are under much less medication.
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Some of Lakdawala’s patients, who are now managing healthy blood sugar levels, include politicians like Nitin Gadkari and Venkaiah Naidu and Bollywood choreographer Ganesh Acharya. “They had uncontrolled diabetes prior to surgery and were on insulin and multiple oral medicines. But post-surgery they are living a comfortable life,” he added.
Lakdawala, director, Department of General Surgery and Minimal Access Surgical Sciences at HN Hospital and founder of Digestive Health Institute said, “Patients, who were on insulin, have been moved to oral medications and some are maintaining normal sugar levels without medicines. Almost all patients, who were on oral anti-diabetic medicines, could stop taking them within a year,” said Dr Lakdawala.
Speaking about who is eligible for surgery, Dr Lakdawala said if the person’s Body Mass Index is 32.5 and he/she is diabetic, then the surgery could be conducted.
Dr Lakdawala, however, said one needs lifestyle changes with the surgery to continue to remain healthy. “The surgery gives you a second chance to maintain a healthy weight.”