Is type 2 diabetes really resolved after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy? Glucose variability studied by continuous glucose monitoring

Short-term Metabolic Outcomes After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study from Oman

Objectives

Obesity poses a significant challenge worldwide, increasing the risk of various metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension (HTN), and dyslipidemia. Bariatric surgery, specifically a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), is effective in inducing weight loss, thereby improving the rate of obesity-related metabolic diseases. This study aimed to assess the short-term effectiveness and metabolic effects of LSG procedures among patients in Oman.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, and included patients who underwent LSG between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018. Demographic, clinical, and anthropometric data were collected from the hospital's computerized records preoperatively and one year postoperatively.

Results

A total of 168 patients were included in the study, of whom most were female (66.1%). Before surgery, the mean age was 36.1 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 50.8 kg/m2. In terms of comorbidities, 28.6% had T2DM, 28.6% had HTN, and 20.8% had dyslipidemia. Postoperatively, more than two-thirds of the cohort (n = 132; 78.6%) achieved a target percent excess weight loss (EWL) of > 50%, including 89.5% and 73.0% of male and female patients, respectively (p = 0.014). The percent EWL was positively correlated to preoperative BMI (p < 0.001); however, no significant associations were observed with various comorbidities, including HTN, T2DM, dyslipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea (p > 0.050).

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that LSG is effective for the short-term achievement of percent EWL among Omani patients with morbid obesity. However, further studies are needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of LSG on percent EWL and its effect on obesity-related metabolic diseases.

Analysis of Changes in Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Patients with Clinically Severe Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy-Prospective Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

We still lack studies providing analysis of changes in glucose and lipid metabolism after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). We aimed to investigate postoperative changes in glucose and lipid metabolism after LSG in patients with DM2.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective, observational study included patients with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 and ≤ 50 kg/m2, DM2 < 10 years of duration, who were qualified for LSG. Perioperative 14-day continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) began after preoperative clinical assessment and OGTT, then reassessment 1 and 12 months after LSG. Thirty-three patients in mean age of 45 ± 10 years were included in study (23 females).

RESULTS

EBMIL before LSG was 17 ± 11.7%, after 1 month-36.3 ± 12.8%, while after 12 months-66.1 ± 21.7%. Fifty-two percent of the patients had DM2 remission after 12 months. None required then insulin therapy. 16/33 patients initially on oral antidiabetics still required them after 12 months. Significant decrease in HbA1C was observed: 5.96 ± 0.73%; 5.71 ± 0.80; 5.54 ± 0.52%. Same with HOMA-IR: 5.34 ± 2.84; 4.62 ± 3.78; 3.20 ± 1.99. In OGTT, lower increase in blood glucose with lesser insulin concentrations needed to recover glucose homeostasis was observed during follow-ups. Overtime perioperative average glucose concentration in CGM of 5.03 ± 1.09 mmol/L significantly differed after 12 months, 4.60 ± 0.53 (p = 0.042). Significantly higher percentage of glucose concentrations above targeted compartment (3.9-6.7 mmol/L) was observed in perioperative period (7% ± 4%), than in follow-up (4 ± 6% and 2 ± 1%). HDL significantly rose, while triglyceride levels significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism was observed 12 months after LSG and changes began 1 month after procedure.

The impact of maternal bariatric surgery on long-term health of offspring: a scoping review

While pregnancy post-bariatric surgery has become increasingly common, little is known about whether and how maternal bariatric surgery affects the next generation. This scoping review aimed to collate available evidence about the long-term health of offspring following maternal bariatric surgery. A literature search was conducted using three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE) to obtain relevant human and animal studies. A total of 26 studies were included: 17 were ancillary reports from five "primary" studies (three human, two animal studies) and the remaining nine were "independent" studies (eight human, one animal studies). The human studies adopted sibling-comparison, case-control, and single-group descriptive designs. Despite limited data and inconsistent results across studies, findings suggested that maternal bariatric surgery appeared to (1) modify epigenetics (especially genes involved in immune, glucose, and obesity regulation); (2) alter weight status (unclear direction of alteration); (3) impair cardiometabolic, immune, inflammatory, and appetite regulation markers (primarily based on animal studies); and (4) not affect the neurodevelopment in offspring. In conclusion, this review supports that maternal bariatric surgery has an effect on the health of offspring. However, the scarcity of studies and heterogenous findings highlight that more research is required to determine the scope and degree of such effects. IMPACT: There is evidence that bariatric surgery modifies epigenetics in offspring, especially genes involved in immune, glucose, and obesity regulation. Bariatric surgery appears to alter weight status in offspring, although the direction of alteration is unclear. There is preliminary evidence that bariatric surgery impairs offspring's cardiometabolic, immune, inflammatory, and appetite regulation markers. Therefore, extra care may be needed to ensure optimal growth in children born to mothers with previous bariatric surgery.

Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Patients Following Bariatric Surgery: A Scoping Review

The objective of this scoping review was to summarize the emerging literature on the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in post-bariatric surgery patients, with a focus on its features (e.g., device, mode, and accuracy), as well as purposes and outcomes of utilization. Three databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science) were searched to obtain relevant studies. Results suggested that most studies used CGM for 3-7 days under blinded mode. Accuracy data were available in only one study, which reported a mean absolute relative difference of 21.7% for Freestyle Libre. The primary applications of CGM were for elucidating glucose patterns and assessing glycemic treatment outcomes. No study has tested the effect of CGM as an intervention strategy to enhance glucose control.

Effect of post-gastric sleeve pyloric length on control of type II diabetes mellitus

Background

Although the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) have been demonstrated, there is still debate about the best surgical method, with the resection distance from pylorus (DP) being among the most contentious topics. In patients who had LSG for morbid obesity, the effect of the resection distance from the pylorus on the management of type II diabetes mellitus during the postoperative phase was examined.

Patients and methods

After receiving each patient’s agreement, a total of 46 obese individuals were enrolled. Patients were prospectively randomized into two groups, group A (‘AP group’) and group B (‘AR group’), based on the distance between the initial reload firing and the pylorus (4 cm for group A and 2 cm for group B, respectively). Blood sugar levels were measured three, six months, and one year following LSG. After a year of follow-up, the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was calculated.

Results

Postoperative weight was statistically significant lower and EWL% was statistically significant higher in group B: LSG ‘2 cm’ compared to group A: LSG ‘4 cm’. As regard outcomes of type 2 diabetes mellitus after LSG, in spite of nonsignificant statistical value, we reported that there was higher frequency of complete remission after 3, 6 and 12 months in group B: LSG ‘2 cm’ compared to group A: LSG ‘4 cm’ and cases with complete remission were associated with significant higher EWL%.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy are recommended to have shorter resection distance from pylorus (DP) done. It has been linked to superior surgical results, weight reduction, and diabetes mellitus management with no problems recorded.

Acute Effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Glucose Variability, Glucose Metabolism, and Ghrelin Response

PURPOSE

This study aims to examine the changes of glucose metabolism, glucose variability (GV), and ghrelin secretion within 1 week following SG in Chinese patients with obesity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-nine patients with obesity (15 with type 2 diabetes) were enrolled to undergo SG. Within 1 week before and after surgery, liquid meal tests were performed in all subjects, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was performed in diabetic patients. Blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, and 180 min for glucose, C-peptide, insulin, and ghrelin analysis in liquid meal test. Mean amplitude of glucose excursions (MAGE), standard deviations (SD), and percent time-in-range (%TIR) determined by CGM were analyzed.

RESULTS

Both in diabetic and non-diabetic groups, significant decrease was observed in glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and ghrelin. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance and liver fat content was decreased. In diabetic group, MAGE and SD were decreased significantly, and the percent time-in-range was higher. The decrease in blood glucose was positively correlated with the decrease in ghrelin concentration in non-diabetic group.

CONCLUSION

Within 1 week after SG, both glucose metabolism and glucose variability were improved significantly. Suppression of ghrelin secretion postoperatively might be a driver of this early improved glycemia homeostasis.

Covid-19 and diabesity: when a pandemia cross another pandemia

The Covid-19 epidemic is having a strong impact on the population with pre-existing chronic diseases. The collision between the Covid-19 pandemic and the current diabesity epidemic has highlighted that obese and diabetic patients have a worse prognosis due to the impairment of the immune response to infections and due to the mechanical limits that make the management of the hospitalized patients with severe obesity more difficult. The limitations imposed on accessibility to non-urgent care during the lockdown of "phase 1" of this pandemic have created the need to revolutionize clinical practice to meet the health demands of chronic and high-risk diseases such as obesity and diabetes. The use of technology and risk stratification to establish the priority of access to the treatments that we have been forced to undertake will be useful tools for a new phase of a more efficient and successful treatment of diabesity.

Continuous glucose monitoring in patients with remission of type 2 diabetes after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy without or with duodenojejunal bypass

Bariatric surgery is associated with a high remission rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is unclear whether patients showing remission of diabetes actually have normal blood glucose levels throughout the day. We therefore performed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in 15 ambulatory patients showing remission of diabetes after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) without or with duodenojejunal bypass (DJB) at the time of diabetic remission (12.9 ± 1.8 months after bariatric surgery). The definition of remission of diabetes was based on the American Diabetes Association criteria. The mean, SD, and coefficient of variation (CV) of glucose calculated from CGM were 6.2 ± 0.6 mmol/L, 1.5 ± 0.4 mmol/L, and 23.7 ± 6.2%, respectively. These values were higher than those of healthy participants without diabetes previously reported. The percentages of time spent above 10.0 mmol/L and below 3.9 mmol/L were 2.6 (IQR 0-5.0)% and 0 (IQR 0-8.0)%, respectively. Thus, patients with remission of diabetes after LSG or LSG/DJB still had substantial periods of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia throughout the day. Therefore, we must manage patients with diabetes carefully, even after apparent remission of type 2 diabetes in response to bariatric surgery.

Long-term Metabolic Effects of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

OBJECTIVE

Obesity is one of the major health challenges throughout the world. The association between obesity and diabetes is well established because 90% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) show excess body weight. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the long-term follow-up.

METHODS

One hundred ninety-five obese patients, 78 with T2DM, were evaluated before and after LSG up to 10 years, to identify complete diabetes remission (FPG < 100 mg/dl, A1c < 6.0%), partial remission (FPG 100-125 mg/dl, A1c < 6.5%), or relapse.

RESULTS

Before surgery, body weight and BMI were 123 ± 21 kg and 44.6 ± 6.8 kg/m² respectively; at a mean follow-up of 7 years (range 4-10), body weight was 104.9 ± 18 kg and BMI 37 ± 6 kg/m². Minimum weight was reached after 2 years. T2DM remission was observed in 66, 57, and 52% at short (< 2 years), medium (2-5 years), and long-term (> 5 years) follow-up respectively. Furthermore, 45.2% maintained complete remission for at least 5 years and about 36% showed a persistent but improved diabetes. None of the patients cured from diabetes had a duration disease greater than 8 years and a glycemic control requiring insulin. The prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia significantly decreased from 49 to 35% and from 51 to 40% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

LSG significantly improves body weight, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in long-term follow-up.

Management of Pregnant Women after Bariatric Surgery

The prevalence of obesity is growing worldwide, and strategies to overcome this epidemic need to be developed urgently. Bariatric surgery is a very effective treatment option to reduce excess weight and often performed in women of reproductive age. Weight loss influences fertility positively and can resolve hormonal imbalance. So far, guidelines suggest conceiving after losing maximum weight and thus recommend conception at least 12-24 months after surgery. As limited data of these suggestions exist, further evidence is urgently needed as well for weight gain in pregnancy. Oral glucose tolerance tests for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) should not be performed after bariatric procedures due to potential hypoglycaemic adverse events and high variability of glucose levels after glucose load. This challenges the utility of the usual diagnostic criteria for GDM in accurate prediction of complications. Furthermore, recommendations on essential nutrient supplementation in pregnancy and lactation in women after bariatric surgery are scarce. In addition, nutritional deficiencies or daily intake recommendations in pregnant women after bariatric surgery are not well investigated. This review summarizes current evidence, proposes clinical recommendations in pregnant women after bariatric surgery, and highlights areas of lack of evidence and the resulting urgent need for more clinical investigations.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Co-morbidity Profiles and Intermediate-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery is effective at achieving sustained weight loss and improving the control and resolution of obesity-related co-morbidities. Most studies that have demonstrated co-morbidity resolution in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) only follow patients for the short term (less than 1 year) or follow a relatively small cohort (<100 patients) for the intermediate or long term (more than 5 years). We report our experience following a large cohort of morbidly obese patients who underwent LSG with intermediate-term follow-up.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 435 consecutive patients who underwent LSG from January 2004 to November 2013. Co-morbidities investigated included diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and hyperlipidemia (HL). A co-morbidity was determined to be resolved if the patient was no longer taking any medication to treat that specific co-morbidity.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 26 ± 25 months (range = 1-112). Mean postoperative total weight loss (%TWL) at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 months were 23.6, 29.9, 29.5, 25.2, 26.7, 25.4, and 24.3 %, respectively. The incidence of all three co-morbidities was found to be significantly lower at the last patient follow-up. The resolution rates for DM, HTN, and HL were 59, 31, and 50 %, respectively. In patients who continued to have co-morbidities, the mean numbers of medications for DM (1.2 ± 0.7 vs. 0.5 ± 0.7, p < 0.0001), HTN (1.8 ± 1.1 vs. 1.3 ± 1.2, p < 0.0001), and HL (0.9 ± 0.7 vs. 0.6 ± 0.6, p < 0.0001) postoperatively were all significantly less.

CONCLUSIONS

LSG is effective at achieving significant and sustained weight loss, improvement in co-morbidity profiles, and a reduction in poly-pharmacy for these conditions over intermediate-term follow-up.

MIDDLE TERM IMPACT OF SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY ON MAJOR CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN A GROUP OF ROMANIAN OBESE PATIENTS

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The goals of bariatric surgery are to improve the quality of life by lowering body mass index (BMI) but also to treat obesity comorbidities. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on metabolic parameters.

METHODS

85 obese patients treated by bariatric surgery LSG procedure were included in the study. Basal, 6 and 12 months after surgery serum glucose levels and lipid fractions were measured. Metabolic syndrome criteria according to IDF 2006 were evaluated at baseline and after bariatric surgery.

RESULTS

Our group included 61.2 % female patients, the mean age was 40.2 ±10.2 years and the metabolic syndrome criteria at baseline were confirmed in 69.4% of the study group. At twelve months after the intervention, the mean excess weight loss (%EWL) was 72%, with age and BMI subgroups variations. We found significant improvements of serum concentrations for triglycerides (P-value = 0.001, decreased by 30%), HDL-cholesterol (P-value = 0.017, increased by 26%), total cholesterol (P-value = 0.043, decreased by 12%) and glucose (P-value = 0.007, decreased by 12%).

CONCLUSIONS

The positive effect of bariatric surgery was confirmed for lipid fractions and fasting glucose levels, also the metabolic syndrome prevalence was significantly reduced, all these changes contribute to lower cardiovascular risk together with significant weight loss.

Reconciliation of Type 2 Diabetes Remission Rates in Studies of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

OBJECTIVE

Bariatric surgery may induce remission of type 2 diabetes in obese patients. However, estimates of remission rates reported in the literature range from 25 to 81%, contributing to the uncertainty patients and physicians both face as they assess treatment options. This analysis attempts to reconcile the seemingly disparate rates of diabetes remission reported in studies of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. It examines variation in the methodologies used to derive the estimates and proposes outcomes that should be reported by all studies.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A literature review yielded 10 large (n > 100), recent (index surgery since 2000) studies of diabetes remission after RYGB. These studies differed in definitions of remission (partial vs. complete), lengths of follow-up (1 year vs. ≥3 years), reported outcomes (cumulative vs. prevalent remission), and risks of attrition bias.

RESULTS

Reported rates of partial remission were 10-30 percentage points higher than rates of complete remission. Study duration explained 69% of the variability in cumulative remission rates, plateauing at 3 years. Adjustment for attrition increased the explained variability to 87%. Attrition-adjusted, 3-year cumulative, complete remission rates ranged from 63 to 65%; however, this does not account for relapse. Attrition-adjusted, 3-year prevalent complete remission rates that accounted for relapse were 23%.

CONCLUSIONS

Variations in reported rates of diabetes remission after RYGB are primarily related to definitions and study duration. Future studies should report both cumulative and prevalent remission to aid decision making and more easily compare studies.