The Connection Between Your Extra Pounds and Diabetes
Here’s the skinny. Type 2 diabetes, a big deal health issue, is all mixed up with weight. If you’re packing extra pounds, are obese, or extremely obese, you’re more prone to get this disease. It’s like your body’s cells go deaf to the insulin from your pancreas when you’re overweight, leading to something called insulin resistance, where your body’s insulin isn’t doing its thing to bring down sugar levels.
What’s Up with Insulin
Insulin is this hormone made by your pancreas. Its main gig? To move sugar into your cells. But with type 2 diabetes, your body either slacks off making enough insulin or doesn’t use it right. This lands you with high blood sugar levels. If your body can’t get enough glucose for energy, it begins to break down body fat for energy, leading to weight loss.
The Weight Loss-Gain Mystery
Here’s the twist. Type 2 diabetes can make you both lose and gain weight. If you’re shedding pounds without trying, it might be a hint of type 2 diabetes. But the funny thing is, weight gain can also kick in once you start insulin therapy. In fact, nearly everyone on insulin therapy puts on weight. But, other type 2 diabetes meds can make you lose weight or keep it stable.
Why Diet and Exercise Are a Big Deal
Juggling diabetes and weight issues with diet, exercise, and meds is super key. Living healthily with a balanced diet and regular exercise can help folks with type 2 diabetes and extra weight to shed those surplus pounds. Eating wholesome foods and keeping an eye on portion sizes is crucial to control blood sugar levels and keep weight gain at bay, which worsens the disease.
Other Health Problems: The Dark Side of Obesity
Obesity can increase your risk of many health problems like high blood sugar, some cancers, osteoarthritis, stroke, and high cholesterol and triglycerides. Having high blood sugar and insulin resistance can also raise your risk of heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure, vision issues, heart disease, erectile dysfunction in guys and decreased sexual desire in both guys and girls, depression, and even amputation.
The Final Word
The tie-up between weight, diabetes, and health is a tangled web. Getting a handle on this is crucial in managing and treating type 2 diabetes. It’s smart to chat with your doc about what treatment options could work best for you. With the right know-how and support, you can deal with weight and diabetes effectively, leading to a healthier and happier life.
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