Type 2 Diabetes - Is Brain Surgery Effective in Lowering Blood Sugar Levels?
Type 2 diabetics can be helped by surgery! Firstly bariatric bypass surgery has been spoken of as an aid in weight loss for Type 2 diabetics and now new research has suggested there is a type of brain surgery which may decrease the onset and progression of Type 2 diabetes.
Although improvements, and remission of diabetes often follows on from bariatric surgery, these are not seen in all diabetics.
Brain Surgery: According to a study published in the journal Surgical Neurology International, July 2010, surgery on a structure called the medulla oblongata could offer hope to at least some Type 2 diabetics.
The medulla oblongata is the lower part of the brainstem, a collection of nerve tissue that controls your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and digestive functions.
It also has much to do with the pancreas and its secretion of insulin.
Part of the medulla oblongata can become compressed when an artery expands with every heartbeat.
When that happens it can lead to insulin resistance, which is the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes.
Research Findings: Researchers in the Department of Neurosurgery, Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, United States, operated on 10 diabetics.
Compression caused by blood vessels in the medulla oblongata was relieved.
Over the following 12 months, 7 of the people operated on showed improvement in their blood sugar control and were able to decrease their anti-diabetes medications.
One diabetic was able to discontinue medication entirely while maintaining normal blood sugar levels.
Three diabetics whose blood sugar was not improved were obese with an average BMI of 34.
4, while those who improved averaged a BMI of 27.
9, which is considered overweight but not obese.
The results were consistent with another study published by the same group in 2004.
At that time surgery was carried out on 15 people who suffered from nerve problems stemming from compression by blood vessels of the medulla oblongata, and from Type 2 diabetes.
This was the outcome:
Risk of Surgery Generally: Surgery always carries with it the risks of bleeding, infection, and untoward effects of anesthetic.
When the central nervous system is involved, special consideration must be given as to whether the possible benefits of surgery outweigh the risks.
This research has provided more knowledge into the causes of diabetes, and knowing the cause of a medical problem is a big step toward eventually discovering a cure.
In the mean time, follow a treatment plan that keeps your blood sugar levels within a safe range, and stay tuned for developments.
Although improvements, and remission of diabetes often follows on from bariatric surgery, these are not seen in all diabetics.
Brain Surgery: According to a study published in the journal Surgical Neurology International, July 2010, surgery on a structure called the medulla oblongata could offer hope to at least some Type 2 diabetics.
The medulla oblongata is the lower part of the brainstem, a collection of nerve tissue that controls your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and digestive functions.
It also has much to do with the pancreas and its secretion of insulin.
Part of the medulla oblongata can become compressed when an artery expands with every heartbeat.
When that happens it can lead to insulin resistance, which is the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes.
Research Findings: Researchers in the Department of Neurosurgery, Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, United States, operated on 10 diabetics.
Compression caused by blood vessels in the medulla oblongata was relieved.
Over the following 12 months, 7 of the people operated on showed improvement in their blood sugar control and were able to decrease their anti-diabetes medications.
One diabetic was able to discontinue medication entirely while maintaining normal blood sugar levels.
Three diabetics whose blood sugar was not improved were obese with an average BMI of 34.
4, while those who improved averaged a BMI of 27.
9, which is considered overweight but not obese.
The results were consistent with another study published by the same group in 2004.
At that time surgery was carried out on 15 people who suffered from nerve problems stemming from compression by blood vessels of the medulla oblongata, and from Type 2 diabetes.
This was the outcome:
- 10 of the patients showed improvement in their blood sugar control after the procedure
- 4 diabetics were able to discontinue their anti-diabetes medication altogether.
and - 1 diabetic was able to achieve good control with less medication normally prescribed
Risk of Surgery Generally: Surgery always carries with it the risks of bleeding, infection, and untoward effects of anesthetic.
When the central nervous system is involved, special consideration must be given as to whether the possible benefits of surgery outweigh the risks.
This research has provided more knowledge into the causes of diabetes, and knowing the cause of a medical problem is a big step toward eventually discovering a cure.
In the mean time, follow a treatment plan that keeps your blood sugar levels within a safe range, and stay tuned for developments.
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