22 December 2011
Click here to download the Diabetes Australia Position Statement: Weight Loss Surgery (Bariatric Surgery) and its Use in Treating Obesity or Treating and Preventing Diabetes.
Diabetes Australia has identified a need to present advice on the use of weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, as a method of managing diabetes.
The position statement was developed by a group of multidisciplinary experts as a result of increased popularity and success of the procedures and the continual rise in Australians living with diabetes. Bariatric surgery refers to the variety of surgical weight loss procedures available including reducing the size of the stomach to restrict the amount of food that a person can consume.
Diabetes Australia Chief Executive Officer Lewis Kaplan explains the purpose of the document. “This position statement is for people living with diabetes. It complements other statements which have been prepared for medical professionals” he said. Advice from Diabetes Australia highlights that weight loss through healthy diet, exercise and lifestyle change is an effective, safe and economical means to help prevent type 2 diabetes and improve control in established diabetes. However there are instances where lifestyle interventions and medical treatments are not successful and bariatric surgery may be considered.
Diabetes Australia advises that bariatric surgery is a viable weight loss treatment option for people with type 2 diabetes with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 35, where lifestyle interventions and medical treatments for obesity or diabetes have not been successful. People who do not already have diabetes but are risk of developing the condition should only consider surgery if they are very obese (BMI over 40 or over 35 with an obesity-related medical condition).
“While bariatric surgery should always be considered as a last resort, more people have reached that position than ever before, so surgery is increasingly being viewed as a viable option - although not without dangers. A key issue is access for those most in need of the surgery, as public funding is much lower than demand” said Kaplan.
The risks, benefits, appropriateness of surgery and type of procedure must be assessed for each individual. Considerations include a person’s weight, medical history, social environment, lifestyle, expectations and readiness to change their eating and exercise habits. The success of bariatric surgery varies and carries some risk of complications. Access to an experienced, multidisciplinary care team and ongoing follow-up is vital for success and to minimise complications.
An estimated 1.7 million Australians have diabetes with an additional 275 Australians developing the condition every day. There are also an estimated 2 million Australians at risk of developing type 2 diabetes with 25% of Australians considered obese.
