Predictors of remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus after laparoscopic gastric banding and bypass.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with obesity and results in considerable morbidity and mortality. Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic bariatric surgery on the control of T2DM in morbidly obese patients in a U.K. population and to determine the predictors of T2DM remission after bariatric surgery. The study was performed at teaching university hospitals and affiliated private hospitals.

METHODS: Of 487 patients who underwent laparoscopic bariatric procedures from 2002 to 2007, 74 patients (15.2%) had established T2DM. The results are presented as the mean values. Multivariate analysis was used to identify the factors predictive of remission of T2DM after bariatric surgery.

RESULTS: The body mass index before laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB; n = 48) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB; n = 26) were comparable (52 versus 51 kg/m(2), P = .508). At a mean follow-up of 16.9 months, 41% had remission and 59% had experienced improvement in T2DM. Although the duration of follow-up was significantly longer for the patients who had undergone LAGB than for those who had undergone LGB (23 versus 13.4 months, P = .001), the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was significantly greater after LGB than after LAGB (59.4% versus 48.8%, P = .031), with an associated greater remission rate of T2DM (50% versus 24%, P = .034). Multivariate analysis revealed a greater %EWL and younger age to be independent predictors of postoperative remission of T2DM, and LGB, longer follow-up, and female gender were independent predictors of a greater %EWL.

CONCLUSION: The %EWL was the only predictor of remission of T2DM that was influenced by the choice of bariatric procedure. In our study, LGB offered greater weight loss and a chance of remission of T2DM compared with LAGB and within 2 years of surgery.