Diabetes: It's Not Just Your Fathers' Insulin
Endocrinologist Dr. Vasdev Lohano talks about new options in the armamentarium for the treatment of diabetes.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among obese adults is seven to eight times higher than adults with normal weight, and having a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more makes you 20 times more likely to develop diabetes.
The team at Premier Primary Care is here to help if you’re struggling with obesity and worried that you may be at risk for diabetes. We offer a range of services for diabetes screening, treatment, and education, as well as medically-supervised weight loss programs.
Our team compiled this blog to help you understand the relationship between diabetes and obesity and know your options for better health.
Obesity is categorized using body mass index (BMI), and individuals with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese. Factors that can contribute to obesity include:
On the other hand, diabetes is a chronic condition that happens when your body can’t correctly process glucose (also known as blood sugar). This happens for two reasons:
So, what is the link between these two health conditions?
The main reason obesity is linked with diabetes is that obesity causes significant changes in your body functions, namely your inflammatory response and fat metabolism.
Research suggests that the presence of excess abdominal fat makes your fat cells release pro-inflammatory chemicals, interfering with your cells’ abilities to respond to insulin. This causes the core problem associated with type 2 diabetes (insulin resistance).
You may have heard that having excess weight around your stomach is more dangerous than putting on weight in other areas, and this change in your body’s inflammatory response is one of the reasons. Abdominal obesity also puts you at a much higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Obesity also affects the way your body metabolizes fat. As you become more obese, your adipose (fat) tissue releases free fatty acids that decrease your body’s sensitivity and response to insulin. This can push you into the prediabetes stage (borderline diabetes), where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, or cause type 2 diabetes if no lifestyle changes are made.
If your body is in the prediabetes stage, it’s not too late to reverse the effects. With a healthy diet and proper exercise, you can significantly decrease the amount of abdominal fat in your body and lower your risk for diabetes.
Studies suggest that regular exercise can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes by up to 58%. However, we know that’s easier said than done. That’s why our team of weight loss specialists are here to help you lose weight and keep it off.
Our providers design a personalized medically supervised weight loss program based on your initial body weight, needs, and lifestyle. By monitoring your progress during regular appointments, we can also adjust your program to ensure you get the best results possible.
You can also come in for a diabetes screening if you’re obese or have any of the risk factors associated with diabetes. Our providers are happy to answer any questions you may have and create personalized treatment plans if you have prediabetes or diabetes.
Obesity is strongly associated with diabetes, but that doesn’t mean that you need to fall victim to either of these conditions. To learn more about our weight loss or diabetes treatment programs, call our Union City, Tennessee, office, or book online to schedule your appointment today.
