Is there a role for bariatric surgery in patients with severe obesity and type 1 diabetes?

Glucose Variability in People with Type 1 Diabetes: Associations with Body Weight, Body Composition, and Insulin Sensitivity

The prevalence of overweight and obesity increases in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the impact of fat accumulation on glucose dynamics in T1D is poorly understood. We assessed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) parameters in patients with T1D depending on their body weight, body composition, and insulin sensitivity. In 547 patients, including 238 overweight/obese individuals, CGM-derived time in range (TIR) and glucose variability (GV) were estimated. Body composition was assessed by DXA. Estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) was used as an indicator of insulin sensitivity. Overweight/obese patients, when compared to normal-weight ones, have a lower time below range (TBR) (<3 mmol/L), GV, and experienced fewer episodes of low glucose. In men, lower TIR, higher time above range (TAR), and GV reduction were associated with central adiposity assessed by total, trunk, and android fat mass. In women, gynoid fat mass only was associated with a lower TIR and higher TAR. The eGDR was a positive predictor of TIR and a negative predictor of TAR, TBR, and GV in men and women. In conclusion, adiposity in people with T1D is associated with a lower risk of CGM-confirmed hypoglycemia, higher TAR, and reduced GV. These features of daily glucose dynamics may be mediated by insulin resistance.

Impact of metabolic and bariatric surgery on weight loss and insulin requirements in type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS) is effective in improving metabolic outcomes and reducing weight in patients with obesity and diabetes, with less explored benefits in type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of MBS on weight loss and insulin requirements in T1D patients compared to insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients over a 5-year period. This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent primary sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) with a confirmed preoperative diagnosis of either T1D or insulin-treated T2D. Primary endpoints focusing on weight loss and secondary outcomes assessing changes in insulin dosage and glycemic control. After 5 years, weight loss was similar across groups, with total weight loss at 14.2% for T1D and 17.6% for insulin-treated T2D in SG, and 22.6% for T1D vs. 26.8% for insulin-treated T2D in RYGB. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in median daily insulin doses from 140.5 units at baseline to 77.5 units at 1 year postoperatively, sustained at 90 units at 5 years. The differential impact of MBS procedure was also highlighted, where RYGB patients showed a more pronounced and enduring decrease in insulin requirements compared to SG.