Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Gastric Surgery for Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition that we are only beginning to understand, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, and type 1.5 is a new condition that we are beginning to study. Nevertheless, the media has latched on to two new medical studies and named gastric bypass surgery the new diabetes cure for type 2 diabetes.
I understand that people want quick solutions. I also know that one's relationship with their weight and stomach is complex. But your stomach is not just part of your "beauty" or "physique" nor is it just about digestion. Your stomach is the home for the many good microbes you need that help control your endocrine and immune systems.
Keep in mind that your body has 10 trillion cells and 100 trillion microbes that all work to keep you healthy. How exactly these microbes work is part of an evolving science. Some good information on the microbiome was provided in a recent Wired magazine. You can also learn about the brain in your gut by viewing the TED presentation by Heribert Watzke: The brain in your gut.
So anyone who encourages the cutting out of parts of the stomach as the answer does not understand the relationship between the stomach and health. The surgeons who advocate cutting do not address what happens to your microbiome, i.e., the healthy bacteria in your gut, that we are now learning are so important to our endocrine and immune systems.
Gastric surgery is not the answer.