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Gastric band

P

Paul.l

Member
Messages
12
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Pump
Hi
I am male age 66 with type 2 diabetes on insulin, I weigh 118kg. My specialist has offered and is trying to persuade me to have a gastric band. My 3 month test is around 8.5 and I am struggling to get it down, I also have bad arthritis and have had 2 new knees.

Has anyone any experience of a gastric band, I cook a lot and enjoy my food very much so obviously have concerns about this procedure.

Thanks
Paul


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Personally, I would stick to non-invasive methods of weight loss (as I did, going from 120kg to 66kg in 18 months though LCHF for 6 months followed by strict diet control), but some people have had success with them.
I'd always view them as a method of last resort rather than first resort though
 
Personally I disagree with gastric bands ops. I am a believer in people can lose weight. I am big and slowly losing weight. 3 years ago I was 23st 12lb. Going by my scales at home, I am now 1st 1lb. That has just been cutting out the **** food. I have lost more in the 2 years when I was diagnosed as type 2
 
I think gastric band ops have their place - but I don't think that place would ever fit into my life.

Perhaps you could do a bit of systematic internet searching to see what the good and the bad are. I recently learned that while the weight loss is usually pretty impressive, and blood glucose can improve amazingly for T2s, there can be some intimidating additional effects (gastric dumping, reactive hypoglycaemia, malnutrition, etc.). Worth checking these out, as well as the chance of regain. I have had reactive hypoglycaemia for most of my life, and the thought of having it induced by an operation that was intended to help, not harm, makes my mind boggle. Especially since the best treatment for reactive hypoglycaemia that I have ever come across is low carbing. Which also usually results in lowered blood glucose, better 3 monthly tests, and weight loss. So if having to low carb is a possible consequence of the op, then why not try it first, and see if you can get the benefits without having to go through the op first.

Like you, I LOVE food. It is a social and sensual delight for me, and thinking of the way my life would be impacted by such an op does not appeal.

HOWEVER, there are many success stories, and you can find a whole range of opinions on the internet. Just because I am anti doesn't mean that you won't weigh all the evidence and decide that the op is the right decision for you. Just make sure you have all the information before you make that decision.
 
Definitely a no no for me because after speaking with gastro, endo and GP, I now know that it can cause malabsorption issues, gallbladder issues and pancreatic issues (loss of enzymes). And not to scare you but I've seen someone die from complications and another person having to reverse the procedure. But I'm sure it's worked for some. And does the nhs offer a tummy tuck afterwards? The Swiss do because you often need to fix the loose skin. Sorry to be a gloom about this ....


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I know someone that did have a band, for weight loss, and it was successful.
But it doesn't seem to be a quick fix, and they still fight to keep weight off at the moment.
Do you mind me asking what your diet is like now, and what you have tried?

Many on here have good success with LCHF for BG control, and weight loss can follow if you find it stops you overeating. There are also some that have found good quality fats help with arthritis.
@zand has often said it has done wonders, and I'm hope she won't mind me tagging her for her input.
 

Personally, I haven't and wouldn't have a gastric surgery to improve my diabetes state. Aside from the potential complications during and post-surgery I know from someone I know that it's absolutely not the easy option many (and I'm not necessarily including you) many folks think.

It's a traumatic process and afterwards, there does still need to be self control over diet. Sure, it reduces the capacity of the stomach, but it's success can be limited by liquidising Mars bars, of other such foods, and if the patient continually over-eats, their "new tummy" will just stretch, so negating their longer term benefits.

The friend who had it done was extremely obese when she had it done, with a family history of youthful, catastrophic heart incidents, so she (naturally enough) wants too avoid those. It was doubly mystifying why, bearing in mind the much publicised knowledge, plus being an extremely highly qualified health care professional, she continued to smoke, and liquidised said Mars bars, chocolate, curry with rice and so on.

Initially, she did lose a massive amount of weight, but she had done nothing to moderate her diet, and over time, stretched be new tummy, so such a state that it negated the impact of the procedure.

So, a while longer she was no further forward than her starting health markers, but was a massive amount of cash out of pocket, as she had the procedure in the US, and had ditched all her larger clothes, as she went through her weight loss process, but then grew out of them again, in pretty short order. It was incredibly, incredibly sad to watch sad.

I wish you well with whatever you decide to do.
 
Thank you @SunnyExpat I thought at first you were tagging me about gastric bands!!

I found that LCHF helped my mild arthritis and general aches and joint pains. Cutting carbs helped reduce the inflammation and increasing fats helped 'oil the joints' . It helped with weight loss up to a point (I lost over 3 stones) but I have stuck there and need to lose more.

@poshtotty has also had success with LCHF.

Edit: The great thing about LCHF is that you can still enjoy your food and there's no need to go hungry.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

You can eat solid Mars Bars after a few weeks.
Probably shouldn't though.
 
Hello @Paul.l
Some years ago, Attempts were made by the NHS weight management team to persuade me to have bariatric surgery. I had tried all their other suggestions of diet and exercise for some time with no success. The agument they were using was that T2 diabetics who have the surgery see their blood glucose levels return to non-diabetic status very short time after the surgery. I argued that I would prefer to omit the surgery, and just eat the diet the surgery patients had post-surgery. This was a very restricted calorie diet due to the reduced volume of their stomachs. The docs said it couldn't be done. The Professor Roy Taylor's reseach was published, suggesting it could. I took the Taylor Newcastle diet route. It worked for me.

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal.htm

Also agree with zand that LCHF helps relieve arthritic pain.

Good luck, whatever you decide.
 

Thank you @zand for the mention, and your wisdom.

I've never been obese or heavily overweight but I've had amazing results with LCHF. My rheumatoid arthritis has been in remission now for 2+ years. It was an unexpected and unintentional side-effect of converting to LCHF to lower my blood sugars and self-manage my T2. With the knowledge of my rheumatologist, I've gradually taken myself off all RA meds and I remain med free for the condition

I have developed a knee problem in recent months but this is a torn cartilage as a result of an injury, not the RA. An X ray on the injured knee last month reported that there is no erosion to my knee. I mention this only because the X ray results show that the RA is still held at bay, which is reassuring to me. I cannot endorse LCHF highly enough.

The benefits to me personally have been slow and steady weight loss, reduction in blood sugar levels, an HbA1c now within normal range, restored energy and general wellness, and the remission of rheumatoid arthritis
 
it sounds like a drastic step to take... what's your BMI? I thought they only consider these things if your BMI is over 45? I could be wrong. I'm not sure what your height is, but 118 kgs is a weight you should be able to manage to lose weight by natural means. I would be so cautious with invasive procedures as they come with unwanted side effects I'm sure. I wouldn't even consider it myself as I have gastric problems anyhow and a gastric band would probably make things worse for me.

I wish you the best with whatever you decide to do for weight loss.
 


Well thank you to everyone, all very helpful replies! I must also now come clean - I have retired to France and lived here for 10 years, diabetic care here is wonderful - concentrating on preventative treatment. I was first diagnosed type 2 some 17 years ago (weight 62Kg), 11 years ago after a very severe hyper attack I was put on insulin in the UK. 4 years ago in France I as put on a pump, it's wonderful regulating my blood sugars very well - much better than injections and also feeling a 100 times better with much smaller amounts of insulin at a time. Why the UK won't consider pumps for type 2's I cannot think, it really is very short sighted. With my weight going gradually (probably due to stopping smoking and taking insulin) up I am being offered a gastric band, no pressure but being encouraged. The French don't set a minimum BMI (mine is 38) they see it as preventative surgery well worth the cost because of what will be saved in the future. Reading your replies I will now seriously look at LCHF and give it a good try before my appointments with those concerned with Gadtric Bands in September. I will post back here in 6 to 8 weeks. Thank you all again.
= Paul
P.S. Didn't know how to re-post so used a reply!
 


All the best, I really hope you get it sorted, and find the best solution for you personally!
 
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