Severe obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and both resolve with weight loss after bariatric operations. Intestinal hormones have been identified which are stimulated by rapid nutrient delivery to the lower small bowel after certain weight-loss operations. These incretins stimulate secretion and hypertrophy of the pancreatic beta cells. Surgical procedures are now being performed to treat diabetes in adults of lesser weight, and the importance of ruling out latent autoimmune diabetes in the adult (a variety of type 1) is suggested, before experimenting with these procedures.
Diabetes mellitus; obesity; bariatric surgery; insulin resistance; GLP-1; C-peptide; BMI
