Medically Reproducing Bariatric Surgery

Type 2 diabetes (DM2) is a chronic disease affecting 29 million Americans and a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, and limb loss (Engelgau et al 2004). Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the only intervention that leads to durable DM2 remission ~ 80% of the time (Mingrone et al 2012). Yet, it's broad application is limited by cost, invasiveness, and clinical inertia. Medically reproducing RYGB would extend the benefit of disease remission to the vast majority of DM2 patients using a cheaper, less invasive and more palatable treatment approach. Although all of the mechanisms mediating DM2 remission are not known, it is widely accepted that RYGB induces caloric restriction and enhances meal-stimulated release of a gut-peptide called glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) both of which improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (Dar et al 2012; Jackness 2013). Caloric restriction can be achieved using OPTIFAST which is a commercially available medical weight loss program that has demonstrated the ability to decrease weight and improve glycemic control (Kirschner et al; 1998). Enhanced meal-stimulated GLP-1 release can be achieved using Liraglutide an FDA-approved once daily GLP-1 analogue that improves glycemic control and induces weight loss.

The investigators hypothesize that adding OPTIFAST (caloric restriction) in suboptimally controlled DM2 patients on Liraglutide (enhanced meal stimulated GLP-1 release), Metformin and Lantus insulin will medically reproduce RYGB and lead to DM2 remission, weight loss, decreased medication intensity and improved health related quality of life.