Influence of gastrectomy for stomach cancer on type 2 diabetes mellitus for patients with a body mass index less than 30 kg/m2

Purpose The impressive effect of LRYGBP on mildly obese patients (30 kg/m2 < BMI < 35 kg/m2) with T2DM raises the argument for lowering the threshold for surgical intervention to non-obesity (BMI < 30 kg/m2). The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of gastrectomy on non-obese patients with T2DM and what preoperative clinical factors are associated with postoperative long term improvement. Methods In this retrospective review, we analyzed the change in diabetic status in 75 patients with gastric cancer undergoing three different gastrectomies in a single institution from June 1996 to September 2009. Pre- and postoperative fasting blood glucose, serum hemoglobin A1c and diabetic medication requirements were compared. The demographic data and other biochemical markers were also collected. Results At an average follow-up of 35.0 ± 25.9 months, we collected the data of 75 patients and evaluated the change of diabetes status. There was no resolution of diabetes in Billroth-I (B-I) group, and 45.2% of patients improved whereas the resolution rate of Billroth-II (B-II) and RY group was 22.2% and 23.5% and 85.2% and 88.2%, respectively. The improvement rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) status was 7.46 times higher in B-II than in B-I patients. The method of reconstruction is the most powerful factor and severity and duration of diabetes showed significant clinical factors for the improvement of the disease after surgery. Conclusion According to these results, foregut-bypass procedure may improve the type 2 DM better than can be explained by the effect of weight loss only. Diabetes remission is significantly higher in those with duration of diabetes less than 5 years.