Texas Center for Medical & Surgical Weight Loss Show that Bariatric Surgery is the Most-Effective Way to Resolve Type-II Diabetes in the Morbidly-Obese
San Antonio, Texas (PRWEB) November 21, 2014 -- Texas’ largest independent weight-loss surgery center claims that the best way to battle the growing epidemic of adult-onset diabetes among morbidly obese patients is to undergo life-changing bariatric surgery, when all other options have failed. November is designated as Diabetes Awareness month by the American Diabetes Association. Nearly 30 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, and another 86 million Americans have “pre-diabetes” who are at risk for developing Type II diabetes.
Dr. Ramiro “Sonny” Cavazos, a fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon and Medical Director of the Northeast Baptist Hospital Bariatric Program, stated that being overweight is the number one risk factor for developing Type II diabetes. Without significant weight loss and moderate physical activity, 15-30% of people will develop Type-II diabetes within five years.
“The most effective way for morbidly obese patients to resolve their diabetic disease progression is through significant weight loss of their excess body fat,” Cavazos said. “And if patients in this high-risk category have earnestly tried and failed medically-supervised weight loss, then bariatric surgery is often recommended as an effective solution.”
“There have been some promising new drug therapies on the market in recent years to help manage diabetes, but long-term data demonstrates that bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for controlling Type II Diabetes. No other therapy comes close,” Cavazos added. Over 80% of morbidly-obese patients that underwent bariatric surgery had their Type II diabetes disease resolved, according to a 2006 clinical study in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine (see reference below).
Dr. Allen Alvarez is a bariatric surgeon at the Texas Center for Medical & Surgical Weight loss who also serves as a Community Leadership Board Member for the American Diabetic Association in San Antonio. Dr. Alvarez cited the San Antonio Health District’s own statistics that more than 1 in 7 San Antonio residents have been diagnosed with diabetes and the prevalence of diabetes in Bexar County now exceeds 13% of residents.
“We need to seriously tackle this correlation of obesity and diabetes in our community. It is a fact that the vast majority of adults tries and fails diet and exercise programs alone to control their weight and diabetic condition. This is not a vanity or appearance issue; rather, this can be a matter of life and death with some patients. People need to fully understand their treatment options when faced with both of these progressive diseases,” Alvarez said.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, the risk of early death is 50% higher in diabetics vs. non-diabetics. Furthermore, 1 in 3 adults nationwide are pre-diabetic, and 90% of those people are not even aware of their condition. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $245 billion annually.
BACKGROUND:
The Texas Center for Medical & Surgical Weight Loss is located in San Antonio, Texas. The Center now has the largest, independent bariatric surgeon team in the state. Collectively, they have performed nearly 8,000 bariatric surgical procedures, employing the latest laparoscopic surgical techniques. The practice is uniquely comprised of board-certified surgeons that have been fellowship-trained in minimally invasive surgery.
The surgeons are affiliated with the American Society of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgeons. The Center has a comprehensive, medically-supervised weight loss program, including a full-time registered dietitian nutritionist as well as behavioral health and personal fitness services. For more information, please visit: http://www.texasbariatric.com or call the clinic at 210-651-0303.
REFERENCES
American Diabetes Association 2014: http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/lower-your-risk/overweight.html?loc=atrisk-slabnav
Brethauer SA, Chand B, Shauer PR. Risks and Benefits of Bariatric Surgery: Current Evidence. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 2006; 73:1-15.
San Antonio Metropolitan Health District: https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/health/HealthyLiving/FactSheet-Diabetes.pdf
U.S. Center for Disease Control: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDTSTRS/default.aspx
Keith Kouba, Texas Center for Medical & Surgical Weight Loss, http://www.texasbariatric.com, +1 2108726462, [email protected]
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