Glucose Homeostasis Pre and Post Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is the most effective weight loss therapy for obesity. Moreover, the early improvement in insulin sensitivity and the resolution of type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery has led to the hypothesis that bariatric surgery has specific beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis beyond weight loss alone. However, this hypothesis has never been adequately evaluated in human subjects. Therefore, the primary goal of this proposal is to provide a better understanding of the effect of bariatric surgery-induced weight loss on insulin action and pancreatic beta cell function.

Inclusion criteria

• BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²
• on stable dose of medications for at least 4 weeks before the pre-surgery metabolic studies

Exclusion criteria

• smokes > 7 cigarettes per day
• previous malabsorptive or restrictive intestinal surgery
• pregnant or breastfeeding
• recent history of neoplasia (< 5 years ago)
• have malabsorptive syndromes and inflammatory intestinal disease
• diabetes mellitus
• show signs of oral disease or xerostomia (i.e., dry mouth)
• history of chronic rhinitis
• on medication that might affect metabolism
• severe organ dysfunction