20 Apr DiaRem Score Predicts Long-Term Diabetes Remission After Bariatric Surgery

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Annemarie Hirsch

Annemarie G. Hirsch, PhD, MPH
Center for Health Research
Geisinger Health System
Danville, Pennsylvania

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective treatment in reversing insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the likelihood of remission or cure after surgery varies tremendously based on certain patient characteristics. The DiaRem score provides patients with a personalized prediction of whether or not they can expect long-term remission of their disease if they choose to have surgery.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: The DiaRem score is based on four factors readily available in the medical record: age, insulin use, hemoglobin A1c, and the use of other anti-diabetic medications. Using a simple weighted score, patients and doctors can determine the likelihood that surgery will result in long-term remission of type 2 diabetes.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: One of the next important areas of research is to determine what modifiable factors after surgery impact how long a patient stays in remission, so that we can find a way to prevent or delay diabetes relapse.

Citation:

Wood G, Mirshahi T, Still CD, Hirsch AG. Association of DiaRem Score With Cure of Type 2 Diabetes Following Bariatric Surgery. JAMA Surg. Published online April 20, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2016.0251.

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Last Updated on April 20, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD