Bariatric Surgery for Diabetes May Halve the Risk for Microvascular Disease

By Kelly Young

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes who undergo bariatric surgery have a reduced risk for developing microvascular disease, according to a retrospective study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Using medical records and insurance claims, researchers matched roughly 4000 adults with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes who underwent bariatric surgery to 11,000 similar adults who didn't have surgery. During follow-up, rates of microvascular disease were consistently lower among surgical patients. For instance, at 5 years, the microvascular disease rate was 17% in the surgical group versus 35% in the matched group. Most of this difference was driven by lower rates of neuropathy, but retinopathy and nephropathy rates were also significantly lower with surgery.

The authors conclude that the findings "should help patients and providers to better understand the potential tradeoffs of bariatric surgery as treatment of [type 2 diabetes] and help them to make more informed decisions about care."