Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 10: Uncontrolled diabetes is emerging as a stealthy health crisis in India, causing severe organ damage and failure, but metabolic surgery could offer a life-saving solution, experts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi said Wednesday.
India, already dubbed the diabetes capital of the world, is witnessing a worrying rise in complications linked to poorly managed diabetes. Dr. Manjunath Maruti Pol, Additional Professor in the Department of Surgery at AIIMS Delhi, highlighted that uncontrolled diabetes is triggering kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, nerve damage, and vision loss at alarming rates.
Currently, India has around 70 million people living with diabetes, and nearly half of them struggle with uncontrolled blood sugar. While the global standard for HbA1c—a key indicator of blood sugar control—is 7, India’s threshold is slightly higher at 7.5, Dr. Pol noted.
“Diabetes is considered uncontrolled when HbA1c remains at 7.5 or above, despite consistent use of three or more medications and strict diet and lifestyle management for at least two years,” he explained.
He emphasized the strong link between HbA1c levels and complications: higher HbA1c accelerates organ damage and increases the risk of life-threatening outcomes.
Surgery as a Treatment Option
Metabolic surgery has now gained international recognition as a treatment for selected cases of uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The International Diabetes Federation formally acknowledged surgery as a treatment option in 2016.
According to medical guidelines, candidates for this surgery are adults aged 18 to 65. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas may be the focus, surgery for uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes involves the stomach and small intestine.
“The procedure involves resizing the stomach into a small tube and rerouting a portion of the small intestine. This allows food to bypass the duodenum and triggers the release of hormones at physiological levels, which helps control blood sugar and prevent further organ damage,” Dr. Pol explained.
Proven Results
AIIMS Delhi has conducted over 100 metabolic surgeries, with 35% of patients being those with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes. Remarkably, all these patients are now free from diabetes medications. Dr. Pol highlighted the rapid improvement seen in many patients, with near-normal blood sugar levels often recorded from the first day after surgery—demonstrating that the benefits are not solely linked to weight loss.
The cost of the surgery, which can be performed via laparoscopy or robotic techniques, ranges between Rs 3 and Rs 6 lakh, but the long-term health benefits can be life-changing.