A Mechanistic Look at Diabetes Surgery

Francesco Rubino, MD, chief of metabolic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College is leading the charge for diabetes surgery. He has published extensively on his theories concerning the effect on diabetes of bypassing the intestine, and, independently of weight loss, the potential mechanisms of action that lead to the reversal of type 2 diabetes. Rubino isn’t alone: bariatric surgeons, gastroenterologists and endocrinologists around the world are also studying the mechanisms of diabetes surgery, but Rubino attracted attention to the field in September 2008, when he spearheaded the First World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes, sponsored by Weill Cornell Medical College and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. The first conference of its kind drew 1,000 people from all walks of diabetes care internationally, a measure of hot interest in diabetes intervention. IN VIVO spoke to Dr. Rubino about this emerging field.

Q: In Vivo: Please tell us about the diabetes surgery division at Weill Cornell-NY Presbyterian Hospital.