Endoscopic Weight Loss Procedures Effectively Treat Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common obesity-related medical conditions, affecting the body’s ability to convert food into energy. Along with cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer, it correlates closely with obesity, and weight loss is an effective treatment route. In fact, about 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes also have obesity.
DR. CHRISTOPHER MCGOWAN
Dr. Christopher McGowan, MD, a leader in endobariatrics, specializes in non-surgical obesity treatments and is triple-board-certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Obesity Medicine. Renowned for pioneering endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) with over 2,000 procedures, his global influence and research contributions define him as a top expert.
When we eat, our bodies break down carbohydrates into glucose — simple sugar molecules that supply energy for cellular functioning. But cells can’t absorb glucose without insulin, which is released by the pancreas. In diabetes mellitus, a person’s body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use insulin effectively, leading to an excess of glucose in the bloodstream. Over time, high blood sugar can damage nerves and blood vessels and cause health problems, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and vision loss.
Insulin resistance, also called impaired insulin sensitivity, is a common precursor to diabetes in people with obesity. This happens when the body struggles to use and store glucose efficiently in muscle, fat, and liver cells. It’s most common in people who are sedentary or carry extra weight in their midsection.
Weight loss can greatly improve type 2 diabetes symptoms, lower blood sugar, and reverse insulin resistance. Non-surgical weight loss is a highly effective tool in managing type 2 diabetes and can even lead to remission (six months or more with blood glucose levels in the normal range).
A recent study in the United Kingdom found that 68 percent of people who lost a significant amount of weight (more than 22 pounds) and kept it off for at least one year went into remission for their type 2 diabetes.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is an excellent option for people with a BMI of 30 or more who have type 2 diabetes. It’s non-invasive, so there’s minimal downtime before you can return to your normal activities. And, at True You Weight Loss, the procedure comes with a year of nutrition counseling and a lifetime of follow-up with our medical providers, so you always have the support you need to keep the weight off for good.
ESG is the most effective non-surgical weight loss procedure available today. When patients follow a comprehensive, supportive program of healthy lifestyle changes after the procedure, they lose an average of 20 percent of total body weight and 70 percent of excess weight, while keeping it off for at least two years (typically five years or more).
In an ESG procedure, a highly trained physician inserts an endoscope – a flexible tube fitted with a camera and revolutionary suturing device – through the mouth, down the throat, and into the stomach. Using the camera as a guide, your doctor can stitch up part of your stomach to make it 70 to 80 percent smaller, reducing how much food you can eat and keeping you feeling full longer. It’s an outpatient procedure with an extremely low risk of complications; most people go home the same day.
In addition to weight loss, patients enjoy many benefits after an ESG procedure, including:
- Better blood sugar control
- Improved cholesterol levels
- Lower blood pressure
- Improvement in sleep apnea
- Reduced joint pain
- Increased mobility
- Greater confidence and wellbeing
- Boost in energy and stamina
Another option to jumpstart weight loss and improve blood sugar control is a gastric balloon. The ORBERA® and Spatz3 gastric balloons used by True You Weight Loss are safe, effective, painless procedures for moderately overweight patients. In a U.S. clinical study, patients lost three times more weight with the gastric balloon than using diet and exercise alone. At True You Weight Loss, with our commitment to supportive and individualized follow-up care, we see patients lose an average of 30 to 50 pounds – and some patients lose much more.
In a gastric balloon placement procedure, our highly trained physicians place a thin, deflated balloon into the stomach with an endoscope. They then fill the balloon with saline until it’s the size of a grapefruit. By taking up extra room in the stomach, the gastric balloon eliminates overeating and hunger cues that fuel weight gain. The procedure happens under mild sedation, takes less than 20 minutes, and is completely reversible. Your physician will remove the balloon six to eight months later, painlessly and non-invasively, just as it was inserted.
Non-surgical weight loss procedures offer patients with type 2 diabetes promising options when diet and exercise haven’t worked – and they come without the risks and complications of bariatric surgery.
Our physicians Dr. Daniel Maselli, Dr. Lauren Donnangelo, and Dr. Christopher McGowan are among an elite few physicians in the U.S. who are triple board-certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and obesity medicine. They are leading experts in the field of endoscopic weight loss, routinely training and educating other physicians in the technique of endoscopic suturing.
True You Weight Loss is the highest-volume endoscopic weight loss center in the country, with our physicians having each personally performed thousands of non-surgical, minimally invasive weight loss procedures. We care for patients from more than 45 states and 10 countries with a highly personalized level of care, attention, and support, including 24/7 direct access to your physician through phone, email, and video chat.
Our unrivaled experience, lifelong follow-up, and concierge care lead to better outcomes, greater weight loss, and long-term success for our patients.
If you’d like to learn more about managing your type 2 diabetes with an endobariatric procedure, please contact us to request a consultation.
