Acute Effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Glucose Variability, Glucose Metabolism, and Ghrelin Response

This study aims to examine the changes of glucose metabolism, glucose variability (GV), and ghrelin secretion within 1 week following SG in Chinese patients with obesity.

Forty-nine patients with obesity (15 with type 2 diabetes) were enrolled to undergo SG. Within 1 week before and after surgery, liquid meal tests were performed in all subjects, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was performed in diabetic patients. Blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, and 180 min for glucose, C-peptide, insulin, and ghrelin analysis in liquid meal test. Mean amplitude of glucose excursions (MAGE), standard deviations (SD), and percent time-in-range (%TIR) determined by CGM were analyzed.

Both in diabetic and non-diabetic groups, significant decrease was observed in glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and ghrelin. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance and liver fat content was decreased. In diabetic group, MAGE and SD were decreased significantly, and the percent time-in-range was higher. The decrease in blood glucose was positively correlated with the decrease in ghrelin concentration in non-diabetic group.

Within 1 week after SG, both glucose metabolism and glucose variability were improved significantly. Suppression of ghrelin secretion postoperatively might be a driver of this early improved glycemia homeostasis.