Researchers say diabetes remains under control seven years after surgery.

Researchers from Cleveland Clinic offered study data showing after seven years, 44% of patients with severe obesity were able to get their diabetes under control and able to stop taking insulin after receiving bariatric surgery. The results of the study were presented to attendees of Obesity Week^TM hailed as the largest international event focused on the “basic science, clinical application and prevention and treatment of obesity.”

After reviewing the outcomes of 252 patients receiving either Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (194 patients) or the sleeve procedure (58 patients) during the period 2004 through 2012. According to Cleveland clinic, prior to bariatric surgery, patients had been living with diabetes 2 for an average of 11 years, were on insulin therapy and had a body mass index of approximately 46 kg/m2.

Ali Aminian, Study Co-author and Associate Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic remarked on the results: "This study shows bariatric surgery can induce a significant and sustainable improvement in metabolic profile of patients with obesity and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, typically a much more difficult group to achieve glycemic control or remission. Anytime a patient can come off insulin and still have their diabetes be under control, it's a big deal, in terms of quality of life, decreased healthcare costs and preventing weight gain."

According to Cleveland Clinic, after seven years, patients were able to reduce their body mass index by 11 points. This was also associated with a significant reduction in blood sugar. Among the findings, the study found that the longer a person has diabetes before surgery the less likely they would see improvement or remission, which 15% of patients studied experienced after surgery.