This Week on WomanTalk Live: “Bariatric Surgery – The Benefits Beyond Weight Loss”

      
Andrew Averbach, M.D.                         Cathy Carr-Dadin, RN

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), diabetes is becoming more common in the United States. From 1980 through 2008, the number of Americans with diabetes has more than tripled (from 5.6 million to 18.1 million).

More recent data from the American Diabetic Association places this estimate closer to 24 million or approximately 8% of adults and children in the U.S.  Of the two varieties, type 2 diabetics make up approximately 90-95% of these numbers.

For many people, type 2 diabetes can often be controlled successfully through lifestyle changes. But, lifestyle changes alone may not be the best solution for the obese.  Obesity is a major medical risk.  Add type 2 diabetes on top of that and the risk of heart attack, stroke and other major medical problems increases significantly.

Several months ago, the first head-to-head studies comparing bariatric surgery to medical therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

According to one of my guests this week, Andrew Averbach, M.D., bariatric surgeon and director of the Bariatric Center of Excellence at Saint Agnes Hospital, “Both studies demonstrated without a doubt that management of type 2 diabetes in the obese population with bariatric surgery is the best approach in terms of achieving glycemic (sugar) control.  There were no remissions of diabetes in the medical group, and the number of medications increased over the course of follow-up.  It was quite the opposite in the surgical group, in which remission rates of diabetes were 40-75%, and some patients discontinued medications.”

Not a solution for everyone who suffers from type 2 diabetes, this will, however, be a game changer in treatment and a life changer for many who suffer with the debilitating effects of type 2 diabetes.

Also joining us in the studio will be Cathy Carr-Dadin, RN, Certified Bariatric Nurse and Bariatric Services Coordinator at Saint Agnes Hospital.  Cathy had bariatric surgery herself twelve years ago and has maintained a weight loss of 180 pounds.  Because of her success and her passion for helping patients, she took a lead role in establishing the bariatric surgery program at Saint Agnes.  She is still considered the “lead cheerleader” and source of support for patients.

The Saint Agnes program celebrated its 10^th anniversary in 2011.  It was one of the first in the area to provide bariatric surgery and, for years, has been the number-one program in Maryland, helping more than 4,000 patients lose more than 400,000 pounds.  It is designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, United Healthcare/Optum, CIGNA, Aetna and with “Blue Distinction” from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.

Join us this week as we discuss these ground-breaking studies and the major impact they will have on the future of diabetes treatment.

Saturday, July 28th from 6:07-7:00 pm ET on Talkradio 680 WCBM Baltimore or “Listen Live” online  

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Dana White

Be sure to check out last week’s show when I talked with Dana White, actress, writer and producer of The Red Suitcase, a wonderful film about a women in her sixties who realizes it’s never too late to start again.  Dana hopes this will also start a movement that will help redefine aging in our culture.

If you missed the show or you want to share it with a friend, you can find it in our podcast archive – the July 21^st show.