Is gastric bypass a healthy option for a type 1 diabetic, overweight teenager?

Question

I am 17, and i am 6'5, and i weigh 320 lbs. I played football this last year and it was tough due to my being out of shape and i want/need to lose weight. I worked out all winter and played baseball in the spring but i just cant seem to take and/or keep any weight off!! I am taking rediculous amounts of insulin just to keep my blood sugars OK but this is going to kill me if it keeps going on like this. All i need to know is if gastric bypass is a viable option for a type 1 diabetic? and if it isnt then what should i try??

Any help would be greatly greatly appreciated

Thanks

Answer 1

Not in my opinion. Surgery for a diabetic should always be the last option.

You asked, "What should I try?". The answer is, don't try... just do it. You didn't gain that much weight from the insulin, you got it from the food you ate. Learn to count your calories. Stop living to eat and start eating to live. If you are serious enough, and you ought to be, you will learn all you can about the different foods and nutrition. There's no need to starve yourself, either. It's a simple matter of burning more calories than you take in... really. I'm living proof. I'm 5'11" and began dieting at 215 lbs and, in just over two months, lost 30 pounds by eating right and exercising... a lot. Since then, my blood sugar is far easier to manage, and I feel much better. Here's some handy info for you:

Here’s all you need to lose weight and get healthy. First, you have to realize there is no quick, long lasting weight loss plan or pill that is going to do the trick. It’s purely mental. You have to learn to “Eat to live, don’t live to eat”. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It is, if you understand that you are going to be reprogramming how you think about eating for the next few weeks. Old habits die hard, right? Not really. You get rid of bad habits by replacing them with good habits. If you learn to count your calories, keep calorie intake lower than output, exercise moderately, and eat only healthy food, you will lose weight. That’s a fact. All it takes is repetition. All success stories have this in common: The successful folks among us know how to be patient, persistent, and consistent. Set a goal and stick with it. The benefits of feeling good will outweigh any sense of sacrifice you might feel about having to push away that cake and ice cream. Here are some helpful and healthy links to help you get started on your way:
http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/weightloss.html
http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/Type_II_Diabetes.html
http://www.chetday.com
http://www.drmcdougall.com
http://www.phifoundation.org
http://www.bodybuilding.com

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Abosolutely not. The shock of the surgery would really throw everything out of whack in your system. You have to remember that if you are a diabetic you will heal much slower and can get an infection way easier than a normal person. Talk to your doctor about other options. Your weight is not that bad for your height and you are young. You need a healthy alternative to surgery. You need to keep a healthier diet, dont stay away from sugar completely that is impossible. You need to discuss other options with your doctor. There is a study going on in Canada where they injected mice with capsicom and it cured their diabetes. Its not considered a total cure yet but its a start anyways. My whole family is diabetic and 2 of them are brittle diabetics, that have to check their insulin levels like 10 times a day. It has nothing to do with their weight because one is very thin and the other one is normal weight. It sounds like you might need a different kind of insulin that is longer lasting. Good luck !

Answer 4

Surgery is pretty risky for diabetics. The whole healing process pretty much sucks. It may be a viable option if you're willing to have a very long, very careful recovery time and if you can find a doctor that wants to do it. Less weight obviously means better circulation, less insulin, but you know, there are easier ways.
You could always juggle your insulin dosages, you know, skip some, keep your sugar high, makes you lose lots of weight...but as soon as you get back on track it comes back (did it for proms, weddings, not a good idea, i felt terrible and could have caused real problems.)
Now, this is what I recommend.
Your endo probably has a dietician on staff. Work with the dietician to come up with a plan that will help you lose weight, more protein, less carbs, less fats.
Best thing to do is talk to your endo or your family doctor.
Good luck!

Answer 5

I agree with the first poster than many people truly do not understand the fundamental fact that those with Type 1 diabetes cannot go off insulin by losing weight and/or exercising.

This is a pretty big deal surgery for anyone. You must carefully weight the benefits versus the risks by getting all the FACTUAL information you can, as well as talking to others who've had the surgery about their experiences.

Good luck.

Answer 6

You will still need the Insulin , but the glucose level will be easier to control . If you ask me , go for it .

Edit
These other people obviously have no clue :
1. Type I is different in that the body does not produce Insulin at all , making the body dependent on Insulin from outside ,regardless of weight and other diet issues . So loosing weight for a type I, unlike type II , is not a complete cure , but it helps a lot making one need less and less Insulin , and decreasing the long term side effects of high blood sugar : blindness , kidney failure , ulcers and gangrene , heart disease etc .
2. Diabetes makes surgery a little bit more dangerous than normal , but it never was considered a contraindication for surgery .

Answer 7

I think a side effect of insulin is weight gain. Gastric bypass surgery is definitely an option. They say that diabetics are able to stop taking their insulin almost immediately. I had the surgery 3 years ago and I belong to an on line support group under yahoo groups it is titled myuicfriends. Check it out and ask some questions.I know that some of the members are/were diabetics. Good luck.

Answer 8

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I am very happy to tell you that I have been feeling better than I have felt in years and my doctor informed me that he will be taking me off my prescriptions if I keep this up.

I recommend you use the Type 2 Diabetes Destroyer to naturally reverse your diabetes.

Answer 9

NO for gastric bypass, Sir! And that's the medical solution for Type 1 Diabetes - insulin injection... for life! Not funny, isn't it? Open your mind and understand what ganotherapy is and discover life changing experience. Visit the web page below for more info...

Answer 10

first of all you should always try diet and exercise first .. second if you have this on ur mind .. speak to ur parents about it and do some research on a dr . who is an expert in this area.. get a consult with him .. see if this might be something u d do ... and then if you qualify .. it can be an answer for some .. some not ... depend s on many factors .. take your time when you get all the info and weigh the pro s and cons .. good luck