6 Tips for Women With Gestational Diabetes
When you hear the word “diabetes,” you may think about type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. But during pregnancy, you may be at risk for gestational diabetes. Here’s what you need to know.
The Link Between Obesity and Diabetes
Obesity and diabetes are two of the most concerning health issues worldwide, and they’re deeply intertwined. As rates of obesity increase, so do rates of type 2 diabetes, conjuring the question: What’s the link between obesity and diabetes?
While not everyone with obesity develops type 2 diabetes, carrying excess weight increases the risk.
Dr. Vijaya Nama and her team in Mesquite, Texas, provide expert care for both diabetes and obesity. Part of that involves patient education, so we’re using this month’s blog to explain the connection between these two chronic conditions.
About obesity
Obesity is a complex chronic disease caused by the accumulation of excess body fat. Your doctor diagnoses obesity if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. While comparing weight to height is a tool for diagnosis, obesity is more than just a weight problem.
Obesity is a relapsing, multifactorial, neurobehavioral disease that disrupts body fat function, affecting how your body stores and uses fat energy. These changes also affect hormones that control hunger and manage energy, and they trigger the release of inflammatory agents that may contribute to other health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
About type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar is higher than normal because your cells are no longer responding to insulin in your body. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that helps get sugar from the blood into the cells.
Too much sugar in the blood means your cells aren’t getting the energy they need. To compensate for this, your pancreas produces and releases more insulin. Over time, blood sugar levels increase, causing damage to blood vessels, nerves, and organs.
The obesity-diabetes link
Excess body weight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but not everyone with obesity develops diabetes, and researchers are still trying to uncover the link. However, insulin resistance is one of the key drivers.
If you’re obese, your pancreas may secrete higher amounts of insulin when the sugar from the food you eat hits your bloodstream. A higher production of insulin taxes the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, affecting insulin production.
Meanwhile, the excess body fat stresses cell function, turning off the insulin receptors and leading to insulin resistance. Lower production of insulin plus insulin resistance are two factors that link obesity and type 2 diabetes.
It’s not just the excess body fat that puts you at risk of diabetes but where you carry it. Abdominal fat, also called visceral fat, increases levels of free fatty acids, another factor that seems to make cells resistant to insulin.
Improving your health
While the connection between obesity and type 2 diabetes is still under investigation, we do know that weight loss can lower your risk and improve your overall health. We offer a medically supervised weight loss program that can help you reach your goals.
If you worry that your weight may cause diabetes, now is the time to reach out. Call Vijaya Nama, MD, today at our office in Mesquite, Texas, or request an appointment online.
You Might Also Enjoy...
5 Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Prevent Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction affects millions of men, with effects that take a toll on your emotional well-being and your overall quality of life—the good news is that simple lifestyle changes may help, including the five listed here.
The Importance of Having an Annual Physical Even if You Feel Fine
Feeling fine? Most chronic conditions — like heart disease and diabetes — don’t cause symptoms early on. Read on to learn how annual physicals can help you stay one step ahead of disease.
I Had an Abnormal Pap Smear. Now What?
When you’re told you have an abnormal Pap smear, cervical cancer may be the first thing that pops into your head. But that’s rarely the case. However, you may need additional testing to see what’s going on.
Why Is Osteoporosis More Common in Women Than Men?
Osteoporosis is a condition that develops when your bones become weak and prone to fractures, and it’s much more prevalent in women. We discuss here why more women have this condition and how to help prevent it.
Go to Urgent Care or Wait for an Appointment? Here's How to Tell
You’re sick — and you’re sick of trying to figure out what type of care you need. We’re here to take the guesswork out of your sick day and help you make the best decision for your health needs.