Archbold Medical Center| Archives Magazine | Summer 2018

ARCHBOLD.ORG • SUMMER 2018 7 Weight-loss surgery Q&A To help you decide if weight-loss surgery is for you, here are answers to some common questions you may have about the surgery. Learn more about bariatric surgery and meet our weight-loss team at www.archbold.org/ bariatrics . Q Am I a candidate? A. You may be if you’re severely overweight. “This generally means you have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40,” said Dr. Hanisee. “Or you have a BMI of at least 35 plus a weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea.” The surgery is only an option if it’s unlikely you’ll trim down any other way. Q Can surgery help type 2 diabetes? A. Yes. “Research shows that for most people with this form of diabetes, bariatric surgery actually makes the disease go into remission,” said Dr. Jarrard. “Blood sugar levels return to normal, eliminating the need for any diabetes medication.” Even when diabetes doesn’t disappear, the surgery still helps nearly 90 percent of those who undergo it by: •  Improving diabetes-related health problems. •  Lowering blood sugar. •  Reducing the amount of diabetes medicine needed to control blood sugar. “For some patients, blood sugar improves very early after the procedure—even before there’s significant weight loss,” said Dr. Hanisee. “Some people with diabetes may even leave the hospital with completely normal blood sugar levels and no need for insulin or other diabetes medicine.” Q What types of weight-loss surgery are available? A. Archbold now offers gastric sleeve and gastric bypass weight- loss surgeries. The gastric sleeve procedure shrinks the stomach, transform- ing it into a narrow tube that limits food intake. The patient’s substantially smaller stomach then produces less of a hormone responsible for hunger. A gastric bypass procedure shrinks the stomach and shortens the path food takes through the small intestine. This limits the calories your body absorbs. You’ll also feel full after eating only small amounts of food. Q What lifestyle changes are necessary afterward? A. “Although you’ll be able to slowly increase how much you eat over time, it will always be important to eat small, frequent meals,” Dr. Jarrard said. “You may need to take vitamins and minerals for the rest of your life.” To succeed at long-term weight loss, you’ll need to: •  Make healthy foods a priority, and avoid ones that are packed with calories. •  Learn how to listen to your body so you’ll know when you’re hungry and when you’re full. •  Exercise regularly. It’s a must for weight management. Joey Jarrard, MD General and Bariatric Surgeon Katie Hanisee, MD General and Bariatric Surgeon