SINCE the Durban Bariatric Surgery opened at St Augustine’s Hospital in Glenwood in 2006, hundreds of overweight patients have been operated on there, many with metabolic abnormalities like diabetes.

From those who underwent the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery to reduce the size of the stomach to a small pouch, most are reported to have been cured of diabetes, which is often referred to as a silent killer.

Specialist surgeon Dr Gert Du Toit said: “Last year we operated on 70 patients and the year before that it was 60 patients, the majority of whom had metabolic abnormalities like diabetes. The gastric bypass surgery, which we mainly do, is effective in curing diabetes. Patients who are insulin-dependent and who have had this surgery save about R4 000 to R5 000 a month.”

He said the benefit of the surgery was weight loss – an average loss was 61 percent of excess weight.

It led to an improvements in general health, and obesity-related medical conditions usually improved or disappeared – including diabetes, severe arthritis, obstructive sleep apnoea and high blood pressure.

According to statistics, about 95 percent of people reported improved quality of life.

Some studies, said Du Toit, suggested people lived longer after surgery compared to equally obese people who did not have surgery.

However, the surgery was not 100 percent successful in all patients.

After five years some patients recorded a 10 percent weight gain. Du Toit said it was important to stress that weight loss surgery was a serious undertaking.

After a consultation, patients are referred to a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals, including psychologists, dietitians, anaesthetists and endocrinologists, before being placed on a preparation diet.

His colleague and partner Dr Ivor Funnell added that it was acceptable to perform the surgery on patients as young as 18 if genetically obese and with metabolic syndrome. IN 2000, Trish Naidoo suffered a mild stroke.

Back then, the 1.52m mother of two, who resides in Chatsworth, weighed 60kg.

But due to mobility problems as a result of the stroke, she piled on 53kg over the years.

In 2011, after a series of visits to doctors, psychologists and dietitians, she was scheduled to undergo gastric by-pass surgery. But she developed “cold feet” and opted not to undergo the procedure.

Earlier this year, the diabetic patient decided enough was enough and changed her mind. By August, Naidoo, 49, who is unemployed, underwent a sleeve gastrectomy at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital.

“I was 113kg and before the operation, I was advised to lose some weight and managed to drop to 108kg. Today, I weight 90kg and am looking forward to reaching my goal weight of 70kg,” she said.

Since the weight loss, her lifestyle has changed.

“Most of the weight was in my tummy area and I struggled to walk. Added to that, I had grown tired of people who were known to me ridiculing me and calling me names. The weight also contributed to my fallen marriage. I think my former spouse was concerned about what I looked like to other people rather than loving me for me and my personality.”

She said: “Losing weight has led to an improvement in my lifestyle. My eating regime has changed.”

Gone are the days of snacking on savouries. “I don’t have that craving any more. I also used to live on fizzy drinks. I even stopped drinking that. I also started walking. I know I have lost so many years being a couch potato.”

She said people believed those who were overweight were greedy and over ate.

“But there are some of us who have had medical problems which can lead to obesity. Sometimes, there are obese genes in the family.”

Naidoo advised the Indian community, especially, to refrain from rushing out to buy a gallon of oil when it was on sale and 10kg bags of rice and sugar. “Indians are prone to heart disease because of the fatty and sugary foods we eat and the lack of exercise.”

Since August Naidoo’s diabetes has been under control.

Her cholesterol has improved and she has reduced her medication for hypertension.

Source Credit: The Post – 26 Nov. 2014 https://www.pressreader.com/