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Gastric Sleeve Vs. Gastric Bypass: Benefits and Limitations

April 7, 2015

If you’ve been considering weight loss surgery but are unsure which method can offer you the best possible results with the lowest risk of sides effects, you may be daunted by the numerous available procedures. At Griffin Hospital, our experienced bariatric surgeon Dr. Rishi Ramlogan can help you determine which technique is right for you; however, we also strongly believe in patient education. As a result, we have detailed a range of benefits and limitations of two of the most popular weight loss surgery options, gastric sleeve and gastric bypass, also called Roux-en-Y, for your convenience. There are many similarities between a sleeve gastrectomy operation and the gastric bypass, including the potential for dramatic weight loss. They are also both performed laparoscopically, a minimally invasive method that reduces incision size. Both approaches will limit the amount of food intake, and both require a restricted diet following the operation to help achieve optimal weight loss and reduce the risk of complications. There are important distinctions, as well. With the gastric sleeve method, the stomach will be reduced in size by up to 80 percent... Read More

How Can Gastric Bypass Surgery Affect Diabetes?

March 5, 2015

Millions of Americans suffer from type 2 diabetes (T2D), the most common form of this condition, which affects the levels of glucose and insulin in the bloodstream. Often developing as a result of significant weight gain, T2D can cause a multitude of serious health problems, including heart attack, liver failure, and blindness. If you’re obese and suffering from T2D, and you’ve tried conservative weight loss methods with little to no lasting success, gastric bypass surgery from our skilled bariatric surgeon may be able to help you achieve diabetes remission. While there are several bariatric operations that can offer substantial weight loss, gastric bypass surgery, particularly the Roux-en-Y technique, has been shown to also aid in achieving normoglycemia (balance in blood sugar). During a Roux-en-Y procedure, the stomach will be reduced in size and a segment of the small intestine will be rerouted to the newly created stomach pouch. This can diminish the capacity of the stomach, therefore restricting the number of calories that can be consumed, as well as reduce calorie absorption due to the digested food bypassing a significant portion of... Read More

Diabetes and the Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

February 26, 2015

One of the key concerns of carrying significant excess weight is the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes occurs as a result of your body’s inability to maintain stable glucose (sugar) levels. Type 2 diabetes, also called T2D, is the most common form of this condition, and it can develop when your body cannot produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates glucose). In some cases, your body may produce enough insulin; however, your system may not be able to properly utilize the hormone to combat the volume of glucose, typically leading to insulin resistance. Insulin helps glucose move into cells, and without it glucose can build up in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of developing life-threatening problems, such as heart attack, stroke, or dehydration. Fortunately, losing weight can aid in reducing or eliminating diabetes symptoms. If you’re obese, diabetic, and having difficulty losing weight, our experienced bariatric surgeon, Dr. Rishi Ramlogan, may be able to help. Losing a substantial amount of weight can reduce the need for antidiabetic medications and, in some cases, eliminate the need for prescription diabetes... Read More

Making a vegetarian post-bariatric surgery lifestyle possible

February 27, 2014

Good nutrition is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle after bariatric surgery at our Connecticut weight loss surgery center. At Griffin Hospital we recommend that patients who had Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy, Lap-Band, or Revision Surgery consume a diet that is rich in protein and low in simple carbs and sugars. But that does not mean that you can't enjoy a vegetarian lifestyle with healthy plant-based protein. After bariatric surgery, you want foods that pack a lot of nutrition in a relatively small portion size. The protein goal for most post-op bariatric patients is about 75 grams of protein per day. When eating non-vegetarian protein sources, this is a bit easier to do, however, with all this focus on high quality protein, even non-vegetarians look forward to expanding their palate with tasty, nutritious vegetarian dishes. Often, this leads to the frequently asked question: What are good vegetarian protein choices? Good Vegetarian Protein Choices for Post-Op Patients Eggs – Unless you are vegan, eggs are a perfect protein. Each large egg gives you 6 grams of protein. If you... Read More

Eating Disorders Awareness Week and Bariatric Surgery in Connecticut

February 25, 2014

This year over 10 million men and 20 million women in America will be affected by a clinically recognized eating disorder. An additional unnumbered amount of Americans will struggle with eating disorders in private without diagnosis or treatment. As we raise awareness during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we urge our patients at Griffin Bariatrics to learn about eating disorders so that you can provide support to those need treatment, or seek treatment for yourself, if needed. Eating Disorders Don’t Have a “Type” Appearances are often not an indicator of someone who struggles with an eating disorder. In fact, often people are surprised to learn that a loved one has been struggling with eating. People with a food disorder come from different races and sexes, and come in all shapes and sizes. Eating Disorders That Can Affect Bariatric Patients Binge Eating Disorder (BED), unlike anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, has a fairly equal balance of men and women, with nearly 40% of BED sufferers being male. BED is the most common eating disorder and is characterized by eating until uncomfortably full,... Read More

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