NEW DELHI: Finance and defence minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday underwent gastric bypass surgery for diabetes management at a private hospital here. Doctors said it was a planned surgery, and the 61-year-old BJP leader was recovering well. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Japan on a five-day visit, called in the evening to enquire about his health, hospital sources said.

Sources said Jaitley, who has been suffering from uncontrolled diabetes for nearly a decade, was admitted to Max Hospital, Saket around 6 pm on Monday. He underwent a series of routine blood and cardiac investigations before the surgery which was done laproscopically, a minimally invasive technique.The surgery involves stapling the stomach to create small pouch so that a small amount of food helps satiate the appetite. This pouch is connected to the small intestine to lower fat absorption.Dr Pradeep K Chowbey, who operated on Jaitley, said the surgery was for weight reduction and done through minimally invasive technique. "It will help him control the appetite and lower his weight from existing 117 kg," he said.Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari underwent the same procedure about two years ago.Dr Chowbey said, "For patients with uncontrolled diabetes, research shows, this is the best option. If surgery is done within 10 years of the onset of diabetes, results are even better."Jaitley, doctors said, has been suffering from diabetes for nearly two decades and he underwent a heart surgery about nine years ago."Recently, his diabetes had worsened and there was swelling in the legs. We are hopeful that this surgery will help in better management of the condition," said Dr Chowbey. He added that loss of weight in patients with uncontrolled diabetes also helps psychologically as it relieves them of anxiety and depression."For long, diabetes management involved dietary changes, medications and routine exercise. Surgery is an additional weapon to fight the lifestyle disorder that affects a large population in the country. It can be considered in cases where conventional treatment methods fail to produce the desired result," said another senior doctor.