Surgery for type 2 diabetes: the case for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has traditionally been the most common bariatric procedure. Long-term data on the efficacy of RYGB demonstrate a long-lasting benefit in weight loss and control of the metabolic syndrome. Although observations of type 2 diabetes (T2D) resolution after RYGB have been reported for 3 decades, it was not until recently that multiple randomized trials comparing RYGB to medical therapy verified the same thing: RYGB leads to significantly greater diabetes control and remission. Even though T2D can relapse, there remains a significant overall benefit of bariatric surgery regarding the downstream effects of T2D: cardiovascular risk and micro- and macrovascular complications. Limited data are available on the comparative effectiveness of RYGB and sleeve gastrectomy in improving glucose homeostasis, but studies including both surgical procedures suggest that the benefit of RYGB in T2D may be more profound. Although further research is needed to examine closely any differences between these 2 procedures, multiple studies underscore the unprecedented value of bariatric surgery for the control and remission of T2D.