The question: The patient is a 65 year old male with a long history of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Otherwise his medical history is unremarkable. He does not smoke. Over the years he has tried numerous diets and exercise programs to reduce his weight but has not been very successful. He understands that his diabetes puts him at a high risk for heart disease and is frustrated that he cannot lose the necessary weight. His neighbor told him about a colleague at work who had his stomach stapled and as a result not only lost over 100 lbs. but also "cured" his diabetes. He wants to know if this procedure really works.