Surgical treatment of obesity and its effect on diabetes: 10-y follow-up.

Since 1980 we have performed the identical Greenville gastric bypass (GGB) procedure on 479 morbidly obese patients with an acceptable morbidity and a mortality rate of 1.2%. The weight loss in the series was well maintained over the follow-up period of 10 y. The 0GB can control non-insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in most patients. The group of 479 patients included 101 (21%) with NIDDM and another 62 (13%) who were glucose impaired. Of these 163 in- dividuals, 141 reverted to normal and only 22 (5%) remained with inadequate control oftheir carbohydrate metabolism. Those patients who were older or whose diabetes was oflonger duration were less likely to revert to normal values. The gastric bypass operation is an effective approach for the treatment of morbid obesity. Along with its control ofweight, the operation also con- trols the hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance of the majority of patients with either glucose impairment or frank NIDDM. Am J C/in Nuir l992;55:582S-5S.