Adjustable Gastric Banding as a Cure for Type 2 Diabetes

Adjustable gastric banding, more commonly referred to as lap band surgery, was approved for use in this country back in 2001. At that time it was considered new and it was not covered by many insurance companies, but it was considerably much less invasive than the more common Roux-en-Y.

In the past couple of years, Medicare has agreed to pay for gastric bypass surgery in morbidly obese patients and this has opened the door for the insurance companies to follow suit. Adjustable gastric banding has grown tremendously in the past few years and one of the biggest reasons is the reduction or elimination of obesity related health issues that follows the surgery.

Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol will decrease for most people following this surgery, as well as joint pain and sleep apnea and these are just some of the changes you will experience.

It was recently announced that lap band surgery is considered to be a cure for Type 2 diabetes and will continued to be used as such. This medical procedure uses a band to limit the size of the stomach, restricting the amount of food that a person is able to intake. As a result of consuming fewer calories, they will lose weight and see their health change for the better.

I look for this surgery to become more common as time goes on and obesity rises. I also foresee this surgery being done as an outpatient procedure as time passes. This surgery is coming down in price and financing is also available for adjustable gastric banding. It is getting to the point where it will soon cost more to be obese and to deal with the related medical issues than it will cost to have the surgery and lose the weight.

The weight comes off relatively quickly at first and you will begin to see your medical problems reduced. However, getting down to a healthy weight and maintaining it will soon be up to the patient. If you continue to follow old lifestyles, you will have problems maintaining a healthy weight. There are people that have gained a good part of their weight back in the years following their surgery.