The control of diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in the morbidly obese with the Greenville Gastric Bypass

Abstract

Since February 1, 1980, the identical standardized Greenville Gastric Bypass has been performed in 397 morbidly obese patients with an operative mortality rate of 0.8%. The operation effectively controlled weight and maintained satisfactory weight loss even after 6 years (mean weights and ranges: Preoperative: 290 lbs (196-535); 18 months: 175 lbs (110-300); 72 months: 205 lbs (140-320). The gastric bypass favorably affected non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), hypertension, physical and role functioning, and several measures of mental health. Rigorous follow-up (97.5% over 6 years) revealed that health problems were common in postoperative patients; there were nine late deaths. Abnormal glucose metabolism was present in 141 (36%) of 397 patients before surgery: NIDDM was present in 88 patients (22%) and 53 patients (14%) were glucose impaired. Of these, all but two became euglycemic within 4 months after surgery without any diabetic medication or special diets. The most recent 42 morbidly obese patients with NIDDM were studied intensively. In that cohort, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin returned to normal after surgery; insulin release, insulin resistance, and utilization of glucose improved sharply. The normalization of glucose metabolism after gastric bypass may not be related solely to weight loss and restriction of caloric intake, but may also be due to the bypass of the antrum and duodenum.