Bariatric Surgery Practice in Houston Says Obesity Surgery Can Treat Type 2 Diabetes

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - Jun 26, 2012) - Two new studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine have found bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for type 2 diabetes in obese and morbidly obese patients. Houston bariatric surgeon Dr. Sherman Yu and his partner Dr. Terry Scarborough of the Texas Laparoscopic Consultants say they have seen similar results in type 2 diabetes remission at their practice and are encouraged by the studies' findings. Drs. Yu and Scarborough say weight loss surgery has long been a safe, successful option for helping patients lose weight and gain back their lives, but is now becoming a more popular solution for reducing the risks of obesity-related diseases as well.

The two randomized trials, one conducted by the Cleveland Clinic and the other by Catholic University of Rome and New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, are the first studies to compare weight loss surgery to other forms of medical treatment and suggest that surgery should be considered sooner and more often in situations where patients are afflicted with both diabetes and obesity. During the latter study, researchers found a diabetes remission rate of about 85% in patients who had a weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, compared to zero for patients who underwent pharmaceutical therapy. Drs. Yu and Scarborough say linking bariatric surgery with the reduction of type 2 diabetes is a groundbreaking step that will have a major impact on the future remedies for obesity-related illnesses.

"As bariatric surgeons, we have seen for years the positive effects that bariatric surgery has in treating diabetes. What's really exciting to me is that these highly publicized studies will now provide medical doctors a more definitive treatment option for their obese diabetic patients," says Dr. Yu.

Dr. Yu and Dr. Scarborough say they hope the new data revealed in the New England Journal of Medicine encourages insurance companies and medical professionals to allow more patients quicker access to the treatment they need to make a positive difference in their health. They say Houston LAP-BAND procedures and gastric plications, as well as other bariatric surgeries, can be an effective treatment for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes and obesity. By limiting the amount of food and sugars that can be absorbed by the body, Drs. Yu and Scarborough say a weight loss procedure helps patients control their cravings and limit excessive consumption for a healthier lifestyle.

Because of the gravity of the decision to undergo a bariatric procedure, Drs. Yu and Scarborough say they stress the importance of consulting with a board-certified and experienced weight loss surgeon in Houston before deciding on an operation. While bariatric surgery has been proven to provide safe and effective results, they say patients should still be sure to select the proper practice for their procedure so as to ensure an overall positive experience. Having been equipped with the latest findings from the New England Journal of Medicine studies, both Dr. Yu and Dr. Scarborough add that they are looking forward to playing a vital role in the future of bariatric surgery and diabetes treatment.

"I'm looking forward to the further research that's being done in the field of diabetes. Now that we can show that there is a surgical treatment for an obese patient with diabetes, the future may show that even normal weight diabetics may benefit from similar surgeries," says Dr. Yu.

About Sherman C. Yu, MD

A graduate of the Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Sherman Yu completed his surgical training at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, where he served as Chief Resident in Surgery. He has completed a year-long fellowship in robotic surgery and minimally invasive surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center and been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Yu is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and several other professional organizations. He was recently named one of America's Top Surgeons by Consumers Research Council of America and has been selected as a Top Physician in Newsweek and H-Texas Magazine.

About Terry Scarborough, MD

Dr. Terry Scarborough is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and has performed over 4000 laparoscopic procedures and over 1000 laparoscopic bariatric procedures. He graduated with honors from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and completed a year-long fellowship in laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Scarborough is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons as well as the Southwestern Surgical Society and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He has been named a Top Physician by both H-Texas Magazine and Newsweek and is ranked as one of America's Top Surgeons by Consumers Research Council of America.

Located at 1200 Binz. Suite 950 in Houston, TX, Texas Laparoscopic Consultants can be reached at (713) 493-7700. It can also be contacted online via the websites tlcsurgery.com, gastricsleevetx.com, or the Texas Laparoscopic Consultants Facebook page.