The effect of small bowel bypass on diabetes mellitus

The effect of jejunoileostomy on fasting blood sugar, glucose tolerance, hypoglycaemic therapy and weight reduction has been studied in 13 massively obese diabetic patients. The average weight reduction was 36.7 per cent of the preoperative body weight. As a result, 12 patients resumed normal fasting blood sugars and 8 showed normal glucose tolerance tests. A significant improvement in the glucose tolerance tests of the remaining 5 patients was seen. None of the patients required long term hypoglycaemic therapy after the small bowel bypass.