On March 28, leading experts across multiple disciplines will convene at the 2nd World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes to review the latest research on bariatric surgery as a treatment option. The three-day meeting, hosted by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, will bring together physicians, scientists and policymakers representing 60 countries. The Congress director is Francesco Rubino, MD, one of the world’s leading authorities on bariatric surgery for diabetes.
Bariatric surgery, initially developed for the treatment of morbid obesity, can improve or normalize blood sugar levels, reduce or even eliminate the need for medication, and lower the risk of diabetes-related death. When specifically used to treat diabetes, bariatric surgery is known as “metabolic surgery” or “diabetes surgery,” an emerging field that is continuing to gain recognition throughout the diabetes community.
Scientists are also probing the mechanisms behind the powerful anti-diabetic effects of bariatric procedures, particularly gastric bypass. Understanding how the surgery works could significantly advance the understanding of diabetes and open avenues for the development of novel drugs.
“The 2nd World Congress aims to raise awareness of gastrointestinal surgery for diabetes, not only as a valuable therapeutic option but also as a unique opportunity for research into the root causes of the disease. The lessons we are already learning from the study of metabolic surgery may profoundly change the way we think about diabetes and obesity,” Rubino, who serves as director of gastrointestinal metabolic surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and associate professor of surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College stated in a press release. “I want to thank all of the professional organizations that have endorsed this Congress and everyone who has supported our effort,” he continues. “In particular, I’d like to thank the American Diabetes Association for partnering with us in this initiative and the International Diabetes Federation, which has chosen this Congress as the venue for announcing its new position statement on diabetes surgery.”
