Gastric Banding to treat Type II Diabetes

Nurses General Nursing

Published

There was a proffesor on one of infotainment shows, (read news) the other day stating that gastric banding should be used in some cases of Type II Diabetes. He stated that studies showed that once weight was lost the Diabetes would often go into remission. He did say that this was not for all cases it is considered effective for about 30% of Pt's. The cost worked out as marginally cheaper than traditional treatments but the human cost sounded outstanding.

This was about all of the usefull info given during the programme, what do you guys think?

Specializes in ED/trauma.

How much insurance pays is usually based on how many co-morbidities are present (DM2 and HTN, etc.) A nurse friend of mine had it done a few weeks ago and had to pay $1,000. If you look at the statistics out there, a very high number of clients can stop all of their po meds/insulin if they remain compliant with the follow up programs, some even become "cured" from there DM2.

Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Insurance companies are different. My insurance company goes by BMI. My BMI is 52. I have no co-morbidities but I was approved by them to have the surgery. Now, if my BMI as 40 and had co-morbidities, qualifying would be different.

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

My BMI is 56 and I have metabolic syndrome AND osteoarthritis, but my insurance lists bariatric surgery at the top of its Exclusions page..........how do you get past that??

Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

What the heck? I'd look for new insurance. That's what I did. I worked at one hospital that wanted me to follow a VLCD, like 800 calories a day diet for a year THEN if it didn't work, I could have the surgery ONLY after forking over 5k to them. These insurance companies need to get it together, obesity is a medical problem that causes other medical problems.

Specializes in Making the Pt laugh..

It is funny that your insurance companies seem to be so short sighted. Here in Oz we have the nationalised health care with private health insurance for private care. The insurance companies here were advertising vouchers for gym membership or sporting equipment on signing on with their company. It makes sense, a healthy consumer will cost less in the long run. If only the government would think the same way.

When you consider that as other posters have mentioned, the effects of obesity are wide ranging, not just stopping at diabetes, it would make sense that if appropriate for the individual Pt, this type of surgery would be encouraged by the insurance companies. Short term loss of profits for long term gain....but then maybe the shareholders would bleat if their dividends went down for the quarter.

My BMI is 56 and I have metabolic syndrome AND osteoarthritis, but my insurance lists bariatric surgery at the top of its Exclusions page..........how do you get past that??

do you have the most recent copy? and these things are commonly negotiated by the employer.....so it may well lie with your employer, not the insurer.....so perhaps it is there you need to start? good luck

+ Add a Comment