Bariatric Surgery in Patients With Obesity and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA)

Metabolic effects of duodenojejunal bypass surgery in a rat model of type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Metabolic surgery has beneficial metabolic effects, including remission of type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that duodenojejunal bypass (DJB) surgery can protect against development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) by enhancing regulation of cellular and molecular pathways that control glucose homeostasis.

METHODS

BBDP/Wor rats, which are prone to develop spontaneous autoimmune T1D, underwent loop DJB (n = 15) or sham (n = 15) surgery at a median age of 41 days, before development of diabetes. At T1D diagnosis, a subcutaneous insulin pellet was implanted, oral glucose tolerance test was performed 21 days later, and tissues were collected 25 days after onset of T1D. Pancreas and liver tissues were assessed by histology and RT-qPCR. Fecal microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S V4 sequencing.

RESULTS

Postoperatively, DJB rats weighed less than sham rats (287.8 vs 329.9 g, P = 0.04). In both groups, 14 of 15 rats developed T1D, at similar age of onset (87 days in DJB vs 81 days in sham, P = 0.17). There was no difference in oral glucose tolerance, fasting and stimulated plasma insulin and c-peptide levels, and immunohistochemical analysis of insulin-positive cells in the pancreas. DJB rats needed 1.3 ± 0.4 insulin implants vs 1.9 ± 0.5 in sham rats (P = 0.002). Fasting and glucose stimulated glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion was elevated after DJB surgery. DJB rats had reduced markers of metabolic stress in liver. After DJB, the fecal microbiome changed significantly, including increases in Akkermansia and Ruminococcus, while the changes were minimal in sham rats.

CONCLUSION

DJB does not protect against autoimmune T1D in BBDP/Wor rats, but reduces the need for exogenous insulin and facilitates other metabolic benefits including weight loss, increased GLP-1 secretion, reduced hepatic stress, and altered gut microbiome.

Good Glycemic Outcomes Following Bariatric Surgery Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, and Low-Titer GAD Antibodies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate diabetes remission after bariatric surgery by presence of GAD antibody among those with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Screening GAD was performed in 221 patients with T2D and obesity referred for bariatric surgery. Nine of 16 patients with GAD and 112 of 205 without GAD proceeded with surgery. Diabetes remission and weight loss were compared by GAD presence.

RESULTS

The group with GAD had levels 16-91 IU/mL. Those with and without GAD were similar with regard to age, BMI, diabetes duration, proportion treated with insulin, HbA_1c, and C-peptide (1,354 ± 548 vs. 1,358 ± 487 pmol/L). At 1 and 5 years postoperatively, the two groups achieved similar BMI reduction and diabetes remission (67% vs. 73%, P = 0.71, and 56% vs. 57%, P = 1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Low-titer GAD in patients with T2D and retained C-peptide should not be a deterrent for bariatric surgery when the principal aim is diabetes remission.

Bariatric Surgery Outcomes in Patients with Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of the Adult

Bariatric surgery is a very effective treatment for obesity-associated type 2 diabetes. However, the benefits of bariatric surgery in patients with obesity and autoimmune diabetes, such as type 1 diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), are controversial. We report 3 female patients with obesity and LADA who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass >10 years ago. The patients were diagnosed with LADA both 1 and 9 years before (n = 2) or 11 years after the surgery (n = 1). Patients preoperative body mass index ranged from 36 to 47 kg/m2 and improved to 23-37 kg/m2 in the last follow-up visit, 10-15 years after surgery. Daily insulin dose also decreased from an average of 0.68 to 0.45 IU/kg in those patients treated with insulin before bariatric surgery. Only one patient developed diabetes-related target organ damage. This study shows that patients with LADA depict remarkable reduction of body weight and insulin requirements over long-term after bariatric surgery. So, LADA should not be considered a contraindication for bariatric surgery yet should only be recommended for patients with concomitant obesity with the primary aim of achieving sustained weight loss.