Obese diabetics to benefit from stomach stapling - UAE

STOMACH STAPLES: Those suffering from obesity related diabetes could benefit from bariatric surgery. (Getty Images)

Obese patients who suffer from adult onset diabetes will be able to benefit from surgery to staple their stomachs, under plans being drawn up in UAE, it was reported Wednesday.

Health officials are poised to give the green-light to bariatric surgery, which includes gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and gastric banding, to be performed in the country.

But, there is still debate within medical circles about exactly when the intervention should take place, which could hold up implementation, according to UAE daily Gulf News.

The move is seen as an important step in the Emirate’s healthcare services as the country boasts the second highest rate of obesity in the world.

Such surgery can cause dramatic weight loss and reverse the onset of type 2 diabetes in 60 percent of cases, according to international estimates.

Dr Ali Reza Eqtedari, general surgeon at Rashid Hospital in Dubai said the surgical diabetes programme would start earliest by next month.

"We will do the surgery with diabetologists; probably starting in March or April," he said.

There were "plenty" of candidates for the procedure, he added, but declined to give a number.

Those suitable for the surgery will be limited to the clinically obese with a body mass index of 40, or those with uncontrolled diabetes and a body mass index of 35, according to a policy drawn up by the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services.

"No centre should being doing the surgery on diabetics with normal weight, or [who are] slightly overweight," Dr Eqtedari said.

"It is a very hazardous surgery and we will fight if people want to do it for normal weight diabetics," he added.

Those who undergo the procedure would also have to participate in a long-term randomised study to track their progress, he said.

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