World Health Day

World Health Day is April 7, 2016.  This year’s focus is on overcoming diabetes through prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.  Diabetes is a chronic disease that leads to high blood sugar levels.  The type of diabetes is dependent on the cause.  Type 1 diabetes is usually an inborn metabolic disease caused by the body not producing enough insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels.  It can not be prevented or cured, only treated.  Type 2 diabetes is caused when the body does not effectively use the insulin it produces.  Gestational diabetes is a less common form of diabetes that is brought on by pregnancy.  

Roughly 350 million people around the world suffer from diabetes, and that number is estimated to double in the next 20 years.  As of 2012, diabetes was the direct cause of about 1.5 million deaths.  In addition, diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, amputation, and kidney failure.

The most common form of diabetes is Type 2, which accounts for 90% of the cases around the globe.  Type 2 diabetes is also the most common form of diabetes encountered by Dr. Shillingford in his bariatric practice.  It is also the most preventable.  Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include:  being overweight or obese, leading a sedentary lifestyle, having a family history of diabetes, having heart disease or high blood pressure or high triglyceride levels, being over the age of 45, and being of Hispanic, African-American, Native American, or Asian descent.  While you can’t change your ethnicity, age, or family history, you can change your weight, your activity level, and your eating habits.

Research shows that bariatric surgery can help prevent, control, and even treat Type 2 diabetes.  Those suffering from Type 2 diabetes often see improvement in their blood sugar levels after bariatric surgery partly due to restricted food intake and resultant weight loss.  Some studies have shown that some people can even discontinue use of their diabetes medications due improvements in blood sugar levels.  In addition to weight loss and improved blood sugar levels, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band surgeries can also contribute to improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels, which are all risk factors for diabetes.  

If you or a loved one is overweight or obese, and have diabetes, prediabetes, or risk factors for diabetes, then gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band surgery may be a treatment option.  Schedule your appointment for an informational session with Dr. Shillingford, M.D., P.A. to discuss gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band surgeries and which may be right for you by calling (561) 483-8840 today.  Dr. Shillingford’s office is centrally located in Boca Raton, and serves patients from all over South Florida including Delray Beach, Wellington, Boynton Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and as far away as Orlando and Jacksonville.