trying to decide - Lap Band or GBS? - Diabetic - ThinnerTimes

BeckyT · 11-13-2005, 09:53 PM

Hello everyone. I am trying to decide whether I will go for the Band or bypass. My family is plagued with type 2 diabetes - even if we only become overweight. I am now in the obese category because most know it becomes difficult for a diabetic to lose weight - especially on insulin. There are now 3/5 of my siblings with type 2 diabetes. My mother had it, my uncle has it and my dad probably would have had it had he lived. We were basically screwed when it came to getting the disease. Another sister is only borderline obese and she is already pre-diabetic with a fasting Bg of 130 recently. Other days it has been lower for her.

I have had diabetes for about 7 years -- that I know of. I had been so thirsty that I was buying a gallon of water on the way to school - a GALLON. I had to commute clear across the state to go to grad school.
I was thinking I could drink the whole thing and be fine. I was on insulin for several weeks then went to pills only for about 6 years. But, I got increasingly worse on pills and ended back on insulin this last spring after a very high hbA1C.

Well, one of my 2 little sisters got really really heavy with the disease. She is 5'2" and weighed like 293. The other little sister is around 200lbs. The heavier sister had a bypass in March and is doing awesome. I am calling her in a little bit. The other sister (the lighter one) is looking at kidney failure, is having seizure like symptoms, is having neuropathy, kidney problems, liver problems, problems with her eyesight, etc...

My diabetes is slightly milder than the other two sisters. I have started having some complications and these are only the ones I can see/tell are there - like numbness in my pinky toes.

My sister that had the bypass walked out of the hospital NOT NEEDING ANY MORE INSULIN, ORAL ANTIDIABETICS NOR HIGH CHOLESTEROL MEDICATION!!!!!!!!!!!!

The other sister REALLY needs gastric bypass but she doesn't have insurance to get it and makes excuses why she can't get the surgery. She was soooo pretty growing up. My sister that had the surgery was chunky growing up - as was I.

I think one of the things that saved my health as long as it has was the fact that I have always been an exerciser. I like to work out. Our family is also naturally muscular.

So, I found out that my husbands insurance will cover the surgery - either Lap Band or GBS.

Now I have to decide what surgery is best for me. I am right at 34.9 to 35 BMI. I am 5'1 and 180. So, I am probably 70lbs overweight. I am easily a size 2-4 hiding under this fat. But, it isn't just about the weight and my body size. I have diabetes - which is an early death sentence to those of us who have it.

I have tried losing weight since I found out about the diabetes - but I have actually GAINED weight. My weight is embarassing to me and I don't want to be an embarrassment to my daughter.

So, in deciding what surgery is best, I need to talk to others who have been in similiar situations. Are there others out there that are on the borderline between obese and morbidly obese that are diabetic and had to chose? How did you chose?

thanks for your help.

Becky

Nichole · 11-14-2005, 11:27 AM

Becky,

I was insulin dependant diabetic and my diabetes doctor was my actual doctor for referring me to a surgeon. She advised me to have GBS and not lap band because the lap band will eventually be loosened and you will just be right back where you began. She said the GBS actually is a lifelong procedure that gives you the tool to start eating properly and it lasts!! My surgery was 8/16/05 and I have not taken a single shot since I left the hospital!!! I also have diabetes on both sides of my family. Hope this helps.

LizardQueen · 11-14-2005, 09:22 PM

I was on glucophage and left the hospital without it. The highest my sugar has been since wls is 88! I'm not sure if you would qualify for GB or not. Generally, you have to be 100 lbs overweight. However, if you have a BMI of 35 or over with Comorbidities (Diabetes will qualify) then you should qualify (this is my docs standards but I think the yare pretty standard on this one). The best advice I can give you is to go to educational seminars on both procedures and see which one you are more comfortable with. Research, research, and research some more! There is a ton of info on the web but look other places too. Talk to your PCP about both procedures and see which one he/she would be most comfortable referring you for. Good luck to you and let us know which procedure you decide to go with!

alikat · 12-13-2005, 07:50 AM

I am (or was) also an insulin dependent diabetic. Going into the surgery on 10/27 my blood sugar was out of control, it never went under 200, even with the insulin. I had laproscopic gbs because they will not perform the lap band here in Iceland, due to the fact that it does stretch out quicker. I weighed 115.9kg (about 255 lbs) and I am 5'4.

Since the surgery, my blood sugars have drastically dropped, and 6 weeks out, I am completley off insulin.

Best wishes! I am rooting for you to be needle free too!