What is Sleep Apnea?

November 12, 2010

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes abnormal pauses or slow breathing during sleep. It is essentially a disruption in sleep that can be serious if untreated.  The risk of being afflicted with sleep apnea rises with increased body weight, and those with diabetes or borderline diabetes are more likely to have the condition.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include waking up with a very sore and/or dry throat, restless sleep, occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation, loud snoring, sleepiness during the day, morning headaches and recurrent awakenings or insomnia

For less serious cases, treatment of the condition includes losing weight, avoiding sleeping pills, alcohol and smoking, and changing sleeping positions (sleeping on the side).  For more serious conditions, surgery and dental devices may be needed.

Losing weight may be the easiest way to manage the condition – weight loss surgery is an option for those who are morbidly obese.

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The Cost of Diabetes

November 6, 2010

According to the American Diabetes Association, the cost of diagnosed diabetes treatment in the United States was $174 billion in 2007 (the most current figure). Add undiagnosed cases, like pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes, and that number jumps to $218 billion. Currently, diabetes affects 1 in 10 US adults, but by 2050, the disease is expected to affect one in three (CDC estimate). What is the cost going to be then?

The cost of diabetes is not just measured in dollars. Diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death in the US and can lead to blindness, strokes and amputations. It is the leading cause of new cases of blindness for adults 20-74, stroke rates are two to three times higher for people with diabetes and more than 70,000 non-traumatic lower-limb amputations were performed on people with diabetes.

Not all cases can be prevented or controlled, but many can be by implementing a comprehensive weight loss strategy. For some, diet and exercise may be enough, but for those suffering from morbid obesity, surgery may be the best path. In any case, losing weight is an important step toward preventing and controlling type-2 diabetes.

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One in three US adults to have diabetes by 2050

October 28, 2010

Diabetes is a becoming a common topic when discussing obesity. It’s a serious disease that currently affects one in 10 US adults. Depending on type, some people with diabetes have to check their insulin levels on a daily basis and give themselves injections, while others are able to control the disease by diet. Regardless, it is a disease that requires nearly constant attention.

The recent report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides a startling statistic – the number of US adults with diabetes will jump to nearly 1 in 3 by the year 2050. With diabetes currently the seventh leading cause of death in the US, the report by the CDC should be a wake-up call to the millions of Americans that are borderline diabetics.

Type-2 is the most common form of diabetes. About 80 percent of people afflicted with Type-2 are overweight. While weight is not the only cause of diabetes, it is one of the most prevalent causes. Proper diet and weight loss are two important ways to lower one’s risk.

Although weight loss sounds like an easy solution to the problem, for many the battle against obesity has been a constant struggle. Gastric band surgery (Lap-Band and Realize Band) is one way to start the weight loss process. Weight loss surgery is currently the only weight loss solution that has been proven to keep weight off long-term. Surgery alone will not solve the problem, but it is a tool for to help patients follow the necessary steps to lose weight and keep it off.  Not only can weight loss help prevent diabetes, it can also help control the condition for those who already have it.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/health/sns-ap-cdc-diabetes,0,5562523.story

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What is BMI?

October 18, 2010

BMI or Body Mass Index is meant to act as a guide to whether someone may be overweight or obese. The word guide should be stressed because BMI doesn’t take all factors into account. Before we delve into the shortcomings of the BMI calculator let’s explore its benefits. After all, while the BMI is not perfect, it does generally correlate with an individual’s body fat level. BMI is the easiest way that an individual can self evaluate obesity. It’s not always easy to figure out how overweight we are without getting guidance from a doctor and this serves as a first step. The BMI follows the formula below:

(weight in LBS / height in inches squared) x 703

So what does the BMI number mean?

Below 18.5 – Underweight
18.5–24.9 – Normal
25.0–29.9 – Overweight
30.0-40.0 – Obese
40 and above – Morbidly Obese

How Do We Use the BMI Number?

Generally, we evaluate your height and weight as a preliminary indication of morbid obesity and qualification for weight loss surgery. If you have a BMI of 40 or over, you qualify for most insurance companies’ first (but not only) criteria for covering weight loss surgery. Even if you do  ot have a BMI of 40 or more, you can still qualify for bariatric surgery. Many programs and insurance companies will accept candidates with BMIs between 35 and 39.9 if the prospective patient has two or more co-morbidities (obesity related diseases) including but not limited to:

  • Type-2 Diabetes
  • Sleep Apnea
  • High Cholesterol
  • High Blood Pressure

BMI Shortcomings:

The BMI calculator does have shortcomings. It does not take into account gender, age, body frame and other variables that can affect one’s qualification for surgery. While it is a good tool, additional evaluations must be performed to ensure an individual qualifies for surgery.

You can check out our BMI calculator at: http://www.weightlosscenterok.com

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Spotlight on Diabetes

September 2, 2010

Back in early August we gave an overview of the major co-morbidities, or diseases associated with obesity, that may be resolved through weight loss and bariatric surgery. Of the many dangerous and even life-threatening co-morbidities, one of the most prevalent diseases we encounter is type-2 diabetes. Of all people suffering form this often debilitating disease, the vast majority have Type-2 diabetes. In fact type-1 diabetes only accounts for about 5 to 10% of the diabetic population.

The main difference between type-1 and type-2 diabetes is that the immune system of those with type-1 diabetes kills insulin producing cells whereas people with type-2 can produce insulin, but they either don’t produce enough or their bodies are not able to use the insulin properly. When the body is short on insulin, the sugar/glucose stays in the blood stream rather than entering the body’s cells. That’s why a simple blood test (and various other testing methods) can determine whether or not you are diabetic.

Obesity is one of the main causes of type-2 diabetes and the damage that diabetes can cause the body cannot be understated. Those who are obese and also smoke are at an even greater risk of type-2 diabetes. Diabetes can cause a whole host of problems including blindness (since the nerves and blood vessels in the eyes can be compromised) kidney disease and even heart attack or stroke (since high blood glucose levels can cause hardening of the arteries).

So how do you fight type-2 diabetes? If you think you may be at risk, you can start by going to your doctor – knowledge is the first step toward a solution. From there you may or may not be prescribed medication. In the end however, losing weight may be the most effective and safest long-term solution to this growing disease. As for bariatric surgery, in gastric bypass patients, most will see a normalized blood glucose level within months of surgery. Recent studies show gastric banding patients and gastric sleeve patients have experienced excellent diabetes improvement results as well.

Related Links:
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery

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