What is metabolic surgery?

Gastric bypass is a surgical procedure that creates an egg-shaped pouch in the upper part of the stomach, which is then connected to the lower part of the small intestine in a "Y" configuration. After this procedure, the food is diverted by this bypass and absorbed only in a small part of the intestine. How to make a decision about doing metabolic surgery? Before deciding to perform metabolic surgery, the patient should be tested and these tests should be checked carefully. The patient's body mass index should be above 40 or more than 30, blood sugar should not be controlled by other treatments, and there should be no other option than surgery. At the same time, the level of hemoglobin A1c should be considered for a patient who has had diabetes for several years and has taken insulin. The most important criteria for patients to decide on surgery is that the pancreas continues to secrete insulin. The status of the pancreas is determined by tests performed before the operation. The patient's obesity level is also evaluated. People who are diagnosed with diabetes and do not need insulin therapy and use low doses of medication have a higher chance of surgery. Why should metabolic surgery be done? The most definitive method to treat type 2 diabetes is metabolic surgery. Although the priority in the treatment of type 2 diabetes is to control the patient's lifestyle, sometimes it is not possible to keep the blood sugar level at an optimal level by only changing the lifestyle and controlling the diet. If the patients have the possibility of surgery from the doctor's point of view, the best and most definitive method of treatment is surgery. Apart from diabetes, this method is also effective in diseases caused by metabolic syndrome. After this treatment, most patients will no longer need to take medication, and some will continue to take medication in very low doses.