Feature Stories

Weight Loss Surgery Puts Diabetes Into Remission

Weight loss surgery beat out the best available medications at controlling blood sugar in overweight and moderately obese people with type 2 diabetes, researchers report. People who underwent one of two stomach-reducing procedures were three to four times more likely to have their blood sugar drop to normal levels after one year of treatment compared with people who received intensive medical therapy alone. [Read complete article]

Obesity Linked to Poorer Mental Skills in Seniors

Obesity is associated with reduced memory and thinking skills in adults aged 60 to 70, especially those with greater amounts of abdominal fat, according to a new study. The study included 250 people aged 60 and older who underwent various measurements of their body fat and a test of thinking skills. [Read complete article]

U.S. Underestimates Long-Term Costs of Obesity, Experts Say

The costs of the obesity epidemic to the United States and the economic value of curbing it are not captured fully by current methods, according to a new report. The problem is that estimates used by Congress when it looks at these issues project out only 10 years, while it may take much longer than that for complications of obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease, to manifest, the report authors say. [Read complete article]

Pancreas May 'Taste' Fructose, Hinting at Links to Diabetes

New research shows that the pancreas has sweet-taste receptors — like those found on the tongue — that can "taste" fructose. In lab studies ... researchers found that when the pancreas tastes fructose from foods, it responds by producing more insulin. However, excess levels of insulin, or an inefficient use of insulin, have been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes, the researchers said. [Read complete article]

Older Articles

Spotlight on Cholecystectomy (Lap Chole)

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves the removal of the gallbladder through a laparoscopic approach. The gallbladder normally stores bile produced in the liver until it is needed for digestion. Unfortunately, the gallbladder often forms gallstones. These seem to be related to body weight, diet, gallbladder motility and inherited body chemistry. Many patients have stones which do not cause symptoms and require no surgery. If however these stones attempt to pass out of the gallbladder and block the gallbladder outlet, severe upper abdominal pain can develop.

Introducing

Dr. Carolyn Reed Carolyn Reed, MD

Dr. Carolyn Reed is presently Professor of Surgery; Chief, Section of General Thoracic Surgery; Deputy Director of Clinical Affairs, Hollings Cancer Center; and holds the Alice Ruth Reeves Folk Endowed Chair of Clinical Oncology. She has been Chair of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery from 2005-2007. She was President of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association in 2007 and is Treasurer of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Read Dr. Reed's full-length bio (as well as those of our other surgeons).

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Physician Referrals

Referrals to the Digestive Disease Center can be made through MEDULINE, a toll-free, 24-hour physician consultation telephone line at 1-800-922-5250, or through The Center's referral hotline. To reach the referral hot-line directly, call (843) 792-6982 between 8:00AM and 4:30PM EST, Monday to Friday.