Diabetes is a chronic condition that most commonly progresses over time as patients develop unhealthy eating habits and in most cases, the disease is present before diagnosis. Diabetic patients develop hyperglycemia or anabolic hormone resistance. Hyperglycemia is a disorder that occurs when the body is unable to produce peptide hormones regularly, and average blood glucose levels are not maintained at a healthy level.

Obesity is known to cause alterations in the body’s metabolism. Excess weight and fat accumulation promote free fatty acids in the blood circulation which significantly impacts regulatory hormone levels.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), about 30% of the UAE population with Type 2 Diabetes are undiagnosed and unaware that they have diabetes. This is especially dangerous if not treated, since diabetes can lead to some serious and potentially deadly complications. Such complications include:

• Cardiovascular Disease: This is considered one of the leading causes of death for patients with diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases occur when the blood passages are clogged or blocked by excessive fat cells released into the bloodstream.
• Diabetic Nephropathy: A condition that results from damage to the blood vessels that allow blood flow to the kidneys. When damaged, the blood vessels are unable to provide the kidneys with the proper supply of oxygen, resulting in kidney diseases and some cases, failure.
• Diabetic Neuropathy: This is a condition that results after the nerves in the body are damaged in response to the symptoms of diabetes.
• Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetes is a direct cause of damage to the retina that can cause vision reduction or even blindness in some diabetic patients.
• Diabetic Foot Ulcer: According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the risk of foot amputations linked to foot ulcers are more than 25 times higher in diabetic patients than those who do not suffer from diabetes.

According to the IDF, bariatric surgery is proven to be a solution for resolving symptoms caused by diabetes. Bariatric surgeries can help correct metabolic functions and reduce the chances of contracting diseases caused by clogged arteries.

The majority of the population with Type 2 Diabetes are either overweight or obese. To reverse the effects of Type 2 Diabetes, patients can:

• Alter their diet to include more whole foods and less fatty foods that create more fat cells in the body.
• Integrate better lifestyle changes in the form of daily physical activity and a balanced diet.
• Undergo a bariatric surgical operation to restore metabolic functions and shed any excess weight that could be the leading cause of diabetes.