I'm at risk of getting diabetes. I want to lose 60 pounds and I would like to know if the sleeve surgery is right for me?

Hello,
Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear the weight loss treatments you have been offered so far have failed to treat your obesity. Fifteen years is a long time. Unfortunately many primary care physicians are unfamiliar with the safety and benefits of bariatric (obesity) surgery and only refer patients in the most extreme situations. The truth is that many patients, even with much lower BMIs can stand to benefit from weight loss surgery. 
Assuming a height of 5’4”, your BMI would be 32. Generally, insurance will cover bariatric surgery for patients with a BMI > 40 or > 35, with obesity-related conditions such as diabetes. This does not mean patients such as yourself are not appropriate for or would not benefit from a gastric sleeve, it simply means the surgery would need to be paid for out of pocket. I have many patients who choose this route and are very happy with their decision. 
Consultation (video or in person) with a bariatric surgeonwill give you a better understanding of the potential benefits and risks of bariatric surgery.
Best wishes,
Dr. Moein

The gastric sleeve surgery could be a good option for you, especially since you’ve been struggling to lose weight for 15 years and are at risk of developing diabetes. At 185 pounds, your BMI would play a role in determining whether you qualify, but if you have weight-related health risks like prediabetes, high blood pressure, or other metabolic concerns, many doctors would still consider you a candidate. The procedure can help with long-term weight loss by reducing your stomach size and making you feel full sooner, which could help you lose the 60 pounds you're aiming for. Additionally, losing weight through gastric sleeve surgery has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly in individuals who are already at risk. If you've struggled with traditional weight loss methods, surgery may provide the tool you need to achieve lasting results.

Hi there, is important to know your height and to rule out any other chronic diseases, but still your are a good candidate for a VSG (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) this surgery will help you to have better eating habits and a healthier lifestyle. The sleeve gastrectomy has shown to be a very effective metabolic procedure in obesity remission and control of metabolic diseases, helping you to achieve a healthier lifestyle. A.L

Hello
Thank you so much for your question and congratulation on taking the decision to become healthier. According with your BMI you can be a great candidate for bariatric surgery; but there are other factor to take into consideration before making a decision; in this case the procedure to keep in mind would be a revision. 
The sleeve gastrectomy, which reduces the size of the stomach is probably an excellent option because  the 70% to 80% of the stomach is removed and the part that produce Ghrelin which is a hormone that makes you feel hungry. Paired with healthy diet and exercise you should have a successful procedure. 
To qualify for weight loss surgery, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recommends you meet one of the following:
1- BMI ≥ 40, or more than 100 pounds overweight.
2- BMI ≥35 and at least one or more obesity-related co-morbidities such as type II diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, or heart disease.
3- Inability to achieve a healthy weight loss sustained for a period of time with prior weight loss efforts.
Have a consultation with a bariatric surgeon this will allow you to discuss about the different procedures in details. Many factors should be considered when deciding for a bariatric surgery, is needed to check your current health status with lab work and in a consultation you can accomplish this.  Don't be discouraged and continue searching the best option to improve your health.
Good luck in this journey!

Great question... first it would be helpful to know your height to calculate your BMI... Generally speaking anyone with a BMI over 30 is classified as being obese and could be a candidate for surgery if diet and exercise has failed, but you need to speak with a specialist in weight loss surgery in order to see if you are a proper candidate... with that said and your pre-diabetes, gastric sleeve surgery helps many patients with curing if not significantly reducing medications for these associated co-morbitities.

15 years of effort to lose weight is long enough and maybe it is time to seek other alternatives. It is known that gastric sleeve or bypass help patients recover from weight associated comorbidities, plus diabetic patients or patients at risk of getting diabetes should more be into seeking a solution as early as possible, cause , your metabolism is and have been trying most probably hard till now if you sticked to a weight loss programme somehow.Gastric sleeve sounds suitable, cause the prolonged sense of fullness for sure, once supported with adherence to diet, will help you effectively loose weight. However, all and all, you probably need further examinations and disclosure on your health condition.

The Michigan Bariatric Surgical Collaborative has created an outcomes calculator which predicts results from various operations.  You didn't give your weight; I plugged in numbers for a 55 year old woman, 5'4" weighing 185, with type 2 non-insulin dependent diabetes.  You would lose 53 pounds, getting to 132 pounds, in one year.  There is an 80% chance that the diabetes would resolve.  Death rate is 0.02% and leak or bleeding 1.34%.  Is that helpful?