John P. Bantle

Weight and type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide. The objective of this review and meta-analysis is to determine the impact of bariatric surgery on type 2 diabetes in association with the procedure performed and the weight reduction achieved. METHODS The review includes all articles published in English from January 1, 1990, to April 30, 2006. RESULTS The dataset includes 621 studies with 888 treatment arms and 135,246 patients; 103 treatment arms with 3188 patients reported on resolution of diabetes, that is, the resolution of the clinical and laboratory manifestations of type 2 diabetes. Nineteen studies with 43 treatment arms and 11,175 patients reported both weight loss and diabetes resolution separately for the 4070 diabetic patients in these studies. At baseline, the mean age was 40.2 years, body mass index was 47.9 kg/m2, 80% were female, and 10.5% had previous bariatric procedures. Meta-analysis of weight loss overall was 38.5 kg or 55.9% excess body weight loss. Overall, 78.1% of diabetic patients had complete resolution, and diabetes was improved or resolved in 86.6% of patients. Weight loss and diabetes resolution were greatest for patients undergoing biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch, followed by gastric bypass, and least for banding procedures. Insulin levels declined significantly postoperatively, as did hemoglobin A1c and fasting glucose values. Weight and diabetes parameters showed little difference at less than 2 years and at 2 years or more. CONCLUSION The clinical and laboratory manifestations of type 2 diabetes are resolved or improved in the greater majority of patients after bariatric surgery; these responses are more pronounced in procedures associated with a greater percentage of excess body weight loss and is maintained for 2 years or more.

Nutrition recommendations and interventions for diabetes: a position statement of the American Diabetes Association.

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is important in preventing diabetes, managing existing diabetes, and preventing, or at least slowing, the rate of development of diabetes complications. It is, therefore, important at all levels of diabetes prevention. MNT is also an integral component of diabetes self-management education (or training). This position statement provides evidence-based recommendations and interventions for diabetes MNT. The previous position statement with accompanying technical review was published in 2002 and modified slightly in 2004. This statement updates previous position statements, focuses on key references published since the year 2000, and uses grading according to the level of evidence available...

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass vs intensive medical management for the control of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia: the Diabetes Surgery Study randomized clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE Controlling glycemia, blood pressure, and cholesterol is important for patients with diabetes. How best to achieve this goal is unknown. OBJECTIVE To compare Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with lifestyle and intensive medical management to achieve control of comorbid risk factors. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A 12-month, 2-group unblinded randomized trial at 4 teaching hospitals in the United States and Taiwan involving 120 participants who had a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 8.0% or higher, body mass index (BMI) between 30.0 and 39.9, C peptide level of more than 1.0 ng/mL, and type 2 diabetes for at least 6 months. The study began in April 2008. INTERVENTIONS Lifestyle-intensive medical management intervention and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Medications for hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were prescribed according to protocol and surgical techniques that were standardized. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Composite goal of HbA1c less than 7.0%, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL, and systolic blood pressure less than 130 mm Hg. RESULTS All 120 patients received the intensive lifestyle-medical management protocol and 60 were randomly assigned to undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. After 12-months, 28 participants (49%; 95% CI, 36%-63%) in the gastric bypass group and 11 (19%; 95% CI, 10%-32%) in the lifestyle-medical management group achieved the primary end points (odds ratio [OR], 4.8; 95% CI, 1.9-11.7). Participants in the gastric bypass group required 3.0 fewer medications (mean, 1.7 vs 4.8; 95% CI for the difference, 2.3-3.6) and lost 26.1% vs 7.9% of their initial body weigh compared with the lifestyle-medical management group (difference, 17.5%; 95% CI, 14.2%-20.7%). Regression analyses indicated that achieving the composite end point was primarily attributable to weight loss. There were 22 serious adverse events in the gastric bypass group, including 1 cardiovascular event, and 15 in the lifestyle-medical management group. There were 4 perioperative complications and 6 late postoperative complications. The gastric bypass group experienced more nutritional deficiency than the lifestyle-medical management group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In mild to moderately obese patients with type 2 diabetes, adding gastric bypass surgery to lifestyle and medical management was associated with a greater likelihood of achieving the composite goal. Potential benefits of adding gastric bypass surgery to the best lifestyle and medical management strategies of diabetes must be weighed against the risk of serious adverse events. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00641251.

Replacement dose, metabolism, and bioavailability of levothyroxine in the treatment of hypothyroidism. Role of triiodothyronine in pituitary feedback in humans.

A change in the formulation of the levothyroxine preparation Synthroid (Flint) in 1982 prompted us to reevaluate the replacement dose of this drug in 19 patients with hypothyroidism. The dose was titrated monthly until thyrotropin levels became normal. The mean replacement dose (+/- SD) was 112 +/- 19 micrograms per day, significantly less (P less than 0.001) than the dose of an earlier formulation--169 +/- 66 micrograms per day--used in a similar study (Stock JM, et al. N Engl J Med 1974; 290:529-33). The fractional gastrointestinal absorption of a tablet of the current formulation is 81 percent, considerably higher than the earlier estimate of 48 percent. Using high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis, we found that the current tablet contains the amount of thyroxine stated by the manufacturer. By measuring the bioavailability of the earlier type of tablet in five patients, we inferred that the strength of the previous tablet had been overestimated. In the present study, the thyrotropin levels of patients on replacement therapy returned to normal when serum triiodothyronine concentrations were not significantly different from those of controls (122 vs. 115 ng per deciliter [1.87 vs. 1.77 nmol per liter]), but when serum thyroxine levels were significantly above those of controls (11.3 vs. 8.7 micrograms per deciliter [145 vs. 112 nmol per liter], P less than 0.001). These findings suggest the possibility that in humans, serum triiodothyronine may play a more important part than serum thyroxine in regulating the serum thyrotropin concentration.

Association of an Intensive Lifestyle Intervention With Remission of Type 2 Diabetes

CONTEXT The frequency of remission of type 2 diabetes achievable with lifestyle intervention is unclear. OBJECTIVE To examine the association of a long-term intensive weight-loss intervention with the frequency of remission from type 2 diabetes to prediabetes or normoglycemia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Ancillary observational analysis of a 4-year randomized controlled trial (baseline visit, August 2001-April 2004; last follow-up, April 2008) comparing an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) with a diabetes support and education control condition (DSE) among 4503 US adults with body mass index of 25 or higher and type 2 diabetes. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomly assigned to receive the ILI, which included weekly group and individual counseling in the first 6 months followed by 3 sessions per month for the second 6 months and twice-monthly contact and regular refresher group series and campaigns in years 2 to 4 (n=2241) or the DSE, which was an offer of 3 group sessions per year on diet, physical activity, and social support (n=2262). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Partial or complete remission of diabetes, defined as transition from meeting diabetes criteria to a prediabetes or nondiabetic level of glycemia (fasting plasma glucose <126 mg/dL and hemoglobin A1c <6.5% with no antihyperglycemic medication). RESULTS Intensive lifestyle intervention participants lost significantly more weight than DSE participants at year 1 (net difference, -7.9%; 95% CI, -8.3% to -7.6%) and at year 4 (-3.9%; 95% CI, -4.4% to -3.5%) and had greater fitness increases at year 1 (net difference, 15.4%; 95% CI, 13.7%-17.0%) and at year 4 (6.4%; 95% CI, 4.7%-8.1%) (P < .001 for each). The ILI group was significantly more likely to experience any remission (partial or complete), with prevalences of 11.5% (95% CI, 10.1%-12.8%) during the first year and 7.3% (95% CI, 6.2%-8.4%) at year 4, compared with 2.0% for the DSE group at both time points (95% CIs, 1.4%-2.6% at year 1 and 1.5%-2.7% at year 4) (P < .001 for each). Among ILI participants, 9.2% (95% CI, 7.9%-10.4%), 6.4% (95% CI, 5.3%-7.4%), and 3.5% (95% CI, 2.7%-4.3%) had continuous, sustained remission for at least 2, at least 3, and 4 years, respectively, compared with less than 2% of DSE participants (1.7% [95% CI, 1.2%-2.3%] for at least 2 years; 1.3% [95% CI, 0.8%-1.7%] for at least 3 years; and 0.5% [95% CI, 0.2%-0.8%] for 4 years). CONCLUSIONS In these exploratory analyses of overweight adults, an intensive lifestyle intervention was associated with a greater likelihood of partial remission of type 2 diabetes compared with diabetes support and education. However, the absolute remission rates were modest. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00017953.

Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Responses to Meals Containing Different Carbohydrates in Normal and Diabetic Subjects

To examine whether the form of dietary carbohydrate influences glucose and insulin responses, we studied the glucose and insulin responses to five meals--each containing a different form of carbohydrate but all with nearly identical amounts of total carbohydrate, protein, and fat--in 10 healthy subjects, 12 patients with Type I diabetes, and 10 patients with Type II diabetes. The test carbohydrates were glucose, fructose, sucrose, potato starch, and wheat starch. In all three groups, the meal containing sucrose as the test carbohydrate did not produce significantly greater peak increments in the plasma concentration of glucose or greater increments in the area under the plasma glucose-response curves than did meals containing potato, wheat, or glucose as test carbohydrates. Urinary excretion of glucose in patients with diabetes was not significantly greater after the sucrose meal. The meal containing fructose as the test carbohydrate produced the smallest increments in plasma glucose levels, but the differences were not always statistically significant. In healthy subjects and patients with Type II diabetes, peak serum concentrations of insulin were not significantly different in response to the five test carbohydrates. Our data do not support the view that dietary sucrose, when consumed as part of a meal, aggravates postprandial hyperglycemia.

Nutrition principles for the management of diabetes and related complications

Health professionals and people with diabetes recognize nutrition therapy as one of the most challenging aspects of diabetes care and education (1). Adherence to meal planning principles requires the person with diabetes to learn specific nutrition recommendations. It may require altering previous patterns of eating and implementing new eating behaviors, which requires motivation for a healthy lifestyle and may also require participation in exercise programs. Finally, individuals must be able to evaluate the effectiveness of these lifestyle changes. Despite these challenges, nutrition is an essential component of successful diabetes management.

Glucose measurement in patients with diabetes mellitus with dermal interstitial fluid

Although measurement of capillary blood glucose remains the standard method of self-monitoring for persons with diabetes mellitus, a less-invasive method of monitoring would be desirable. Measurement of dermal interstitial fluid glucose might meet this need. To test this possibility, plasma glucose, capillary blood glucose (current standard), and dermal interstitial fluid glucose were measured in 17 subjects with type I diabetes during a 5-hour pre- and postprandial period when plasma glucose was changing rapidly. The objective was to assess the ability of dermal interstitial fluid glucose to accurately predict plasma glucose over a wide range of potential glucose concentrations. Dermal interstitial fluid glucose was highly correlated with plasma glucose (r = 0.95, p < 0.0001). The mean absolute and percent differences between dermal interstitial fluid glucose and plasma glucose were 1.2 mmol/L (21 mg/dl) and 10.6%, respectively. The kinetics of dermal interstitial fluid glucose and plasma glucose were similar. There was no significant difference between dermal interstitial fluid glucose and plasma glucose in mean glucose excursion, peak glucose concentration, or time to peak glucose concentration. The correlation between dermal interstitial fluid glucose and plasma glucose was as strong as the correlation between capillary blood glucose and plasma glucose. In conclusion, dermal interstitial fluid glucose can be used to estimate plasma glucose, and has the potential to be used for monitoring patients with diabetes mellitus.

Postgastric bypass hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia syndrome: characterization and response to a modified diet

BACKGROUND Some alarming cases of hypoglycemic episodes in patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass have been reported. The syndrome of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia with nesidioblastosis after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has been previously reported and is controversial. It has been suggested that subtotal or total pancreatectomy might be needed to control the symptoms in these patients. We have identified a similar cohort of patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia for whom we have reviewed patient characteristics and measured the glucose and insulin response to mixed meals. METHODS We reviewed the charts of 14 patients identified by clinic follow-up who reported episodes consistent with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (lightheadedness or loss of consciousness after a high-carbohydrate meal). All patients were given a mixed meal consisting of high carbohydrates on day 1 and a low-carbohydrate meal on day 2. The plasma glucose and serum insulin levels were measured before (fasting) and 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes after the meal. RESULTS After a high-carbohydrate meal, 12 of 14 patients demonstrated hyperglycemia associated with hyperinsulinemia at 30 minutes. These patients subsequently became hypoglycemic while the serum insulin was rapidly declining. After reaching a nadir at 120 minutes, the plasma glucose level corrected spontaneously. After a low-carbohydrate mixed meal, the patients demonstrated very little change in plasma glucose and only a modest increase in serum insulin. Of the 12 patients treated with a low-carbohydrate diet, 6 had substantive symptom improvement, and 10 exhibited at least some improvement. CONCLUSION The hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia noted in some patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has many similarities to the dumping syndrome. A low-carbohydrate diet successfully improved symptoms in most of our patients. Approaches to treatment should involve a low-carbohydrate diet and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors rather than pancreatectomy.

Dietary Fructose and Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes

Studies in both healthy and diabetic subjects demonstrated that fructose produced a smaller postprandial rise in plasma glucose and serum insulin than other common carbohydrates. Substitution of dietary fructose for other carbohydrates produced a 13% reduction in mean plasma glucose in a study of type 1 and type 2 diabetic subjects. However, there is concern that fructose may aggravate lipemia. In 1 study, day-long plasma triglycerides in healthy men were 32% greater while they consumed a high-fructose diet than while they consumed a high-glucose diet. There is also concern that fructose may be a factor contributing to the growing worldwide prevalence of obesity. Fructose stimulates insulin secretion less than does glucose and glucose-containing carbohydrates. Because insulin increases leptin release, lower circulating insulin and leptin after fructose ingestion might inhibit appetite less than consumption of other carbohydrates and lead to increased energy intake. However, there is no convincing experimental evidence that dietary fructose actually does increase energy intake. There is also no evidence that fructose accelerates protein glycation. High fructose intake has been associated with increased risk of gout in men and increased risk of kidney stones. Dietary fructose appears to have adverse effects on postprandial serum triglycerides, so adding fructose in large amounts to the diet is undesirable. Glucose may be a suitable replacement sugar. The fructose that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables provides only a modest amount of dietary fructose and should not be of concern.