First Minimally Invasive Diabetes Surgery Successfully Performed in Hexi Region

Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery II at Wuwei Cancer Hospital Ushers in a New Chapter in Metabolic Therapy

Surgical Record

Time: May 7, 2025  

Location: Hepatobiliary Center, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery II, Wuwei Cancer Hospital, Gansu Province  

Event: Successfully completed the first minimally invasive diabetes surgery in the Hexi region!

Highlights of the operation:

• Highly efficient and safe: The surgery takes only 45 minutes, with no bleeding throughout the procedure and minimal trauma.

• Significant effects:
◦ Four hours after the operation, the patient's blood sugar began to drop significantly.

◦ On the second day after surgery, the fasting blood glucose stabilized below 7 mmol/L, and the postprandial blood glucose was controlled below 10 mmol/L.

◦ Preliminary recovery of autonomous blood glucose regulation without relying on antidiabetic drugs.

Significance: This marks the official entry of diabetes treatment in the Hexi region into the era of minimally invasive metabolic surgery, bringing a brand new treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes!

Surgical Insight: How Laparoscopic Metabolic Surgery Works

This surgery adopts the internationally advanced laparoscopic minimally invasive technology, achieving three core effects by precisely adjusting the gastrointestinal structure:

1. Reduce absorption: Shorten the absorption path of food in the intestine, reduce excessive intake of calories and sugar.
2. Hormonal Regulation: Stimulates ileal secretion of glucose-lowering hormones such as GLP-1, enhances insulin sensitivity, and restores pancreatic islet function.

3. Metabolic Reset: Improves insulin resistance, rebuilds the body's intrinsic glucose-regulating mechanism, and fundamentally modulates sugar metabolism.

Diabetes Surgery Popular Science Class

1. What is diabetes surgery?

• Alternate names: Metabolic surgery, Bariatric metabolic surgery

• ​​Principle:​​ "Re-routing" the intestines! Through minimally invasive adjustments to the gastrointestinal structure, the body learns to "smartly regulate blood sugar."

◦ ​​Eat the same foods, absorb fewer sugars​​

◦ ​​The gut actively secretes "blood sugar-lowering factors"​​ to help restore normal glucose levels

◦​​ Indications:​​ Primarily indicated for ​​obesity​​ and ​​type 2 diabetes​​.

​​2. Who is a suitable candidate for diabetes surgery?​​

✅ ​​Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes​​

✅ ​​BMI ≥ 27.5​​ (calculation: weight in kg ÷ height in m²) ​​with metabolic complications​​ such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or fatty liver

✅ ​​Disease duration ≤ 25 years​​； age ​​16–75 years​​ (earlier intervention leads to better outcomes!)

✅ ​​Poor response to medication​​: High doses of oral hypoglycemic drugs/insulin, unstable blood sugar levels, or intolerance to drug side effects

​​3. How long do the surgical effects last?​​

​​Short-term:​​ Over ​​95%​​ of patients experience ​​rapid blood sugar improvement​​ post-surgery, with some able to ​​discontinue insulin​​ within ​​one week​​.

​​Long-term:​​ ​​5-year follow-up​​ shows that ​​over 85%​​ of patients achieve ​​diabetes remission​​ (no medication needed, normal blood sugar levels).

​​Additional benefits:​​ Average ​​weight loss of 15%-30%​​ (for overweight patients, can be combined with weight-loss interventions). Reduced risk of ​​cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, retinopathy​​, and other complications.

Expert Insight: A Breakthrough from "Glucose Control" to "Diabetes Reversal"​

​​"Traditional treatments rely on medications for 'passive glucose control', while metabolic surgery restores the body's innate ability to regulate blood sugar, achieving 'active diabetes reversal'."​​

— Director Xing Wenjun, Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Wuwei Cancer Hospital Hepatobiliary Center, emphasizes:

​​1. The surgery is not a "cure for diabetes"​​, but can significantly improve the condition, with some patients achieving clinical remission.

2. ​​Candidates must undergo multidisciplinary evaluation​​ (joint assessment by endocrinology, nutrition, anesthesiology, etc.)

3. ​​Long-term success requires postoperative lifestyle management​​, including healthy diet and exercise.

Postoperative Management Tips

​​1. Dietary Transition (Phased Approach):​​

​​Days 1-3 Post-op:​​ Liquid diet (rice water, vegetable/fruit juice, protein powder)

​​Weeks 1-2 Post-op:​​ Semi-liquid diet (porridge, soft noodles, steamed egg custard)

​​Month 1 Post-op:​​ Soft foods (gradually introduce lean meat, fish/shrimp, vegetables)

​​Long-term Principles:​​ Small frequent meals, avoid high-sugar/fat foods, chew thoroughly

​​2. Nutritional Monitoring & Supplementation:​​

• ​​Regular testing​​ of vitamin B12, iron, calcium, folate, and other nutrient levels (post-op absorption changes may cause deficiencies)

• ​​Supplement as prescribed​​ (multivitamins, calcium tablets, etc.) — Never discontinue without medical advice!

3. Exercise & Lifestyle Management:​​

​​Early Post-op Phase:​​ Focus on walking (30 minutes daily, divided into 3 sessions)

​​After 3 Months:​​ Gradually add low-to-moderate intensity exercises (brisk walking, swimming, tai chi)

​​Essential Habits:​​ Quit smoking, limit alcohol, maintain regular sleep patterns, and manage stress effectively.

​​4. Lifelong Follow-up:​​

​​Schedule regular check-ups​​ at 1, 3, and 6 months post-op, then ​​annually​​ to monitor blood glucose, HbA1c, liver/kidney function, etc.

​​Seek immediate medical attention​​ if symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, or hypoglycemia occur.

Medical Care Guide

​​Department:​​

   Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery II, Hepatobiliary Center

   Wuwei Cancer Hospital Heavy Ion Center

​​Locations:​​

​​Heavy Ion Tumor Rehabilitation Town Campus​​

   2F, Building 2, China Heavy Ion Tumor Rehabilitation Town

   Ronghua Avenue, Liangzhou District, Wuwei City, Gansu Province

​​Heavy Ion Rehabilitation Town Outpatient Department​​

   Room 126A, Surgical Clinic Area, 1F Outpatient Department

   China Heavy Ion Rehabilitation Town, Ronghua Avenue, Liangzhou District, Wuwei City

​​Main Hospital Campus​​

   Room 322, Outpatient Department

   Wuwei Cancer Hospital Central Campus

   Liangzhou District, Wuwei City

​​Outpatient Hours:​​

• ​​Monday to Friday:​​ 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM

• ​​Specialist Clinic:​​ Monday & Wednesday mornings (Director Xing Wenjun of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery II personally attends)

Warm Tips

​​Diabetes surgery is a crucial scientific intervention, but not a "shortcut"!​​ Long-term adherence to postoperative health management is essential for sustained therapeutic outcomes. We recommend eligible patients consult a specialized medical team at the earliest opportunity to develop an optimal, personalized treatment plan through comprehensive evaluation.