Bariatric surgery results in significant remission and/or improved HbA1c levels among patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. A 25% reduction in predicted cardiovascular risk was also reported for the duration of the study.

“Although the term ‘cure’ with respect to type 2 diabetes is still controversial, our study demonstrated that 24% of all patients and 31% of gastric bypass patients achieved long-term complete remission with an HbA1c less than 6% and that 27% of the gastric bypass patients sustained that level of glycemic control off medication continuously for more than 5 years,” Stacy Brethauer, MD, bariatric surgeon and researcher and colleagues wrote.

The level of long-term glycemic control demonstrates a cure, according to a 2009 consensus statement by the American Diabetes Association, the researchers said. Six years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (n=162), gastric banding (n=32) or sleeve gastrectomy (n=23), researchers observed that a mean excess weight loss of 55% was associated with a mean HbA1c reduction from 7.5% to 6.5% (P<.001) and FBG from 155.9 mg/dL to 114.8 mg/dL (P<.001), according to data. Long-term LDL (73%), HDL (72%), high triglyceridemia (80%) and hypertension (62%) rates also appeared positive. 34% of the study population benefitted with improvement to glycemic outcomes. Further study is warranted to determine the long-term recurrence of diabetes and nephropathy, researchers wrote.