The Link Between Diabetes and Obesity

Sugar is important for regulating your body and keeping you functioning at an optimal state. It's a major fuel source for your cells. Thanks to insulin — the hormone that regulates your blood sugar — most people maintain a steady balance. But if you have type 2 diabetes, this process has broken down. Either your body is resisting the effects of insulin or your pancreas isn't producing enough of it. What’s more, if you're overweight, you're at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Fortunately, for many people, type 2 diabetes is preventable and treatable. Because your health is important to Dr. Madhav Devani and the team at Ross Bridge Medical Center, we want to ensure that you have the tools to maintain a healthy lifestyle and lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

How obesity contributes to diabetes

When you gain excessive weight, the cells in your body develop a resistance to the insulin produced by your pancreas. A good way to find out if you’re overweight is to calculate your BMI. The BMI, or body mass index, is a measurement of your height and weight, which gives you a general idea of where you fall on a scale of normal weight (BMI of 18.5–24.9), overweight (25–29.9), or obese (30–39.9).

Your waistline matters too

Similarly, where your body carries the excess weight, or your body’s shape, is also a factor. If you carry your excess weight around your waistline, an apple shaped body, you’re at an increased risk when compared to those who carry their weight around their hips and thighs, a pear shaped body. For a more specific measurement, if the circumference of your waist is greater than 35 inches, for women, or greater than 40 inches, if you’re a man, your risk for developing type 2 diabetes also increases.   

Risk factors for obesity and type 2 diabetes

• An inactive lifestyle
• Unhealthy eating behaviors
• Genetics and family history
• Advanced age

While genetics and family history do play a role in developing type two diabetes, an unhealthy lifestyle is also a contributing factor. So, it is certainly important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, particularly as you age.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and lowering your risk

Because over 90% of people with diabetes are overweight, it’s important to learn how to maintain a healthy lifestyle when it comes to prevention. Eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise are incredibly important here. When it comes to diet, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting enough fiber and eating fewer simple carbohydrates and excess fats.

When you maintain regular physical activity, you lower your blood sugar levels, which helps insulin become more effective. Exercise also decreases insulin resistance because muscle cells have more insulin receptors than fat cells. If you need help maintaining a regular diet and exercise program, talk to us about your options.     

Diagnosis and treatment

Here at Ross Bridge Medical Center, Dr. Madhav Devani makes your health his top priority, and this includes providing you with preventative health care. If you find that your weight is an issue, and you fall into the overweight or obese category, it may be time to talk to us about your weight loss options.

Because type 2 diabetes has a genetic component, it is especially pressing to seek treatment if you have a family history of diabetes and are overweight or obese. Take control of your health and call us today or visit our website to schedule an appointment online at your convenience.