To the Editor: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is the most common bariatric surgery performed in Australia, and diabetic patients represent an important target population.1 In one of few trials in type 2 diabetes, 73% of 30 LAGB-treated obese patients reverted to normal glucose tolerance by 2 years, compared with 13% of 30 obese patients randomly assigned to treatment with changes to their lifestyle.2 These Australian data precipitated publicity implying that many people with type 2 diabetes were cured by LAGB.3,4 However, only recently diagnosed patients were recruited. The benefits of LAGB in those with diabetes of long duration (and usually with a substantial loss of pancreatic beta-cell function5) may not be as dramatic.
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