Abstract
Bariatric surgery is a traditional method used for the treatment of higher degrees of obesity. Emerging evidence suggests that it also represents a very efficacious approach to the treatment of metabolic complications of obesity, in particular type 2 diabetes mellitus.
In this paper, we summarize the results of the studies exploring the influence of bariatric surgery on the metabolic complications of obesity and discuss possible mecha-nism behind the improvements or remission of diabetes after bariatric surgery. We also discuss the results of recently published studies directly comparing the efficacy of bariatric surgery and intensive pharmacological treatment of diabetes.
New consensus concerning the position of bariatric surgery in the treatment algorithm of type 2 diabetes is also covered in detail along with practical aspects of the preparation of patients for bariatric surgery and their long-term follow-up after the operation.