ONE VICTORIA DOCTOR SAYS WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY DOES MORE THAN JUST HELP A PERSON SHED HUNDREDS OF POUNDS.

WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IS A NEW TOOL THAT HELPS TO TREAT TYPE TWO DIABETES.

FOR MOST DIABETIC PATIENTS, THE SURGERY HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IN TREATING DIABETES THAT DOCTORS HAVE NOW MADE THIS TREATMENT A SUBSPEACIALTY, KNOWN AS METABOLIC SURGERY.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY, THE FIRST IS GASTRIC BYPASS, IT DECREASES THE FATTY TISSUE IN AND AROUND THE INTERNAL ORGANS.

[CG :2 Line\Dr. Dean McDaniel\Director of Bariatrics Citizens Medical Center]

<"From our graph here we see that food finds a different channel and goes away from the pancreas and by doing that we're able to get a much more rapid resolution of the problem." Dr. Dean McDaniel, Director of Bariatrics at Citizens Medical Center said.

MEANING THAT THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF OF INSULIN, INSULIN THAT'S USUALLY TIED UP, NOT BEING USED PROPERLY.  THIS PROCEDURE CAN GET THE INSULIN GOING IN A MATTER OF DAYS DR. MCDANIEL SAYS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF DIABETES BEING IN REMISSION WITHIN A MONTH.

THE SECOND TYPE OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IS ADJUSTABLE LAP BAND SURGERY.

"A lap band tool is placed in the left mid section of  the stomach and has a tube connected to the tool to a port that doctors are able to pump water through, and the more water pumped in to the tool the tighter restriction on the stomach."

IT RESTRICTS THE AMOUNT OF FOOD PASSING THROUGH THE STOMACH AND TAKES ABOUT TWO YEARS FOR A PERSON TO SEE DIABETES RESULTS.
THE KEY POINT, IN BOTH OF THESE SURGERIES, IS THAT THEY HELP TO SUSTAIN WEIGHT LOSS, THEREFORE IMPROVING DIABETES.

WHILE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERIES CAN COST A PRETTY PENNY, IT MAY STILL BE WITHIN REACH, THAT IS, IF YOUR INSURANCE CARRIER WILL COVER IT.

"The insurance companies are beginning to recognize the diabetic resolution and this has allowed them to increase coverage for these these types of procedures, many types of policies will cover the weight loss surgery on a diabetic patient." Dr. McDaniel said.

HE ADDS THAT SHELLING OUT THE BIG BUCKS UP FRONT FOR SURGERY, IN MOST CASES, WILL BE LESS THAN IT WOULD COST TO CONTINUALLY PAY FOR DIABETES TREATMENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF A PERSON'S LIFE.

AS DIABETES INCREASES AS A PROBLEM IN VICTORIA, DOCTOR MCDANIEL SAYS THIS IS ONE WAY TO TREAT THE PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE A PERMANENT EFFECT.