Background

This study aims to determine the likelihood of T2DM improvement, through resolution or reduction in medicine usage, one year after either laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Ninety bariatric patients were evaluated, 47 RYGB and 43 patients SG, in a retrospective observational study. Diabetic medication prescription, BMI, HbA1c levels, plasma fasting glucose, and medical history from each patient were collected before bariatric surgery at 3, 6, and 12 months post-bariatric surgery. Of the 90 patients, 38 completed all postoperative (post-op) follow-ups at three months, six months, and 12 months. Post-op, there was a statistically significant drop in the number of patients with diabetes regardless of surgical procedure, from 38 patients to 21, 15, and 14 (pre-op, post-op 3 mo, 6 mo, and 12 mo respectively; p < 0.001). Comparing the RYGB (N = 21) and sleeve gastrectomy (N = 20) over 12 mo, there was no significant difference in BMI change (p = 0.61), HbA1c (N = 9, p = 0.92), bedside glucose (N = 9, p = 0.46), or insulin units (p = 0.41). These data suggest that RYGB and SG procedures appear to significantly reduce bariatric patients' BMI, oral diabetic medication use, insulin use, insulin units, HbA1c, and bedside glucose at 12 months post-op. Importantly, there was no significant difference between the two procedures in these outcomes at 12 months. As RYBG is currently the recommended procedure for bariatric patients with T2DM, our results suggest that SG may also be appropriate.