To be sure, making the choice to undergo bariatric surgery for weight loss is a serious one for people who struggle with obesity. These procedures are only considered when diet and exercise haven’t worked, or when severe weight-related health problems become imminent. However, it’s a choice made by nearly 300,000 Americans every year. 

For people with type 2 diabetes who do opt for bariatric surgery, the positives can include far better long-term control of the disease, according to a recent study funded by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). 

The study followed up on four independent trials conducted in the U.S. between 2007 and 2013. Researchers compared two groups of type 2 diabetes patients from those trials over a subsequent period of 12 years: one group of 166 adults between ages 18 and 65 who had undergone one of the three most common bariatric surgery procedures, and a second group of 96 who received medical management plus lifestyle interventions.  

In addition to maintaining greater weight loss – an average of 20% compared to 8% in the medical management group – participants who had bariatric surgeries were more likely to be able to reduce or stop diabetes medications, and also had higher rates of total diabetes remission over the 12-year period.

“While there are many factors involved, and not all of them are completely understood, bariatric surgery typically results in greater weight loss that effects a person’s metabolic hormones, which improves the body’s response to insulin and ability to maintain healthy blood glucose levels,” said Dr. Jean Lawrence, NIDDK project scientist. “These results show that people with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes can make long-term improvements (in) their health and change the trajectory of their diabetes through surgery.”