Diabesity – Find Out How Obesity Is Related to Diabetes

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a condition where excessive fat gets accumulated in the body, leading to many health complications.

Causes:

• sedentary lifestyle

• an improper diet rich in simple carbohydrates and saturated fats

• genetics

• stress

• lack of sleep, etc.

Obesity is generally measured in terms of BMI (Body Mass Index). BMI, roughly speaking, is a mathematical calculation that accounts for your height and weight, to arrive at a number. A BMI of over 25 is considered overweight, while beyond 30 is considered obese.

Link between obesity and diabetes

When you eat food, glucose or energy is released into your bloodstream, ready to be used by the muscles. This transportation is helped by insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.

If there’s excessive glucose, it is stored in the liver, for later use, or converted to adipose tissue. Excessive sugar in the bloodstream damages the walls of the arteries that supply oxygen to your vital organs, which is why it’s important for insulin to be able to remove sugar effectively from the bloodstream.

But as more fat gets deposited, the pancreas needs to work harder to produce more insulin to remove the sugar from the bloodstream. Fighting against this fat resistance takes a toll on the pancreas, leading to less insulin production. And when this worsens over time, it leads to diabetes.

What is diabetes?

There are three types of diabetes. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, where external insulin must be taken in order to survive. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women, who otherwise don’t have any history of diabetes. While it usually goes away after the baby is born, it does put the mother and baby at risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.

Type 2 diabetes

Nearly 70 million individuals in India had Type 2 diabetes in 2019, which makes it a serious epidemic. Type 2 diabetes is the result of insufficient insulin production, and cells becoming insulin resistant. Now, obesity can cause fat cells to release inflammatory chemicals, making the body more insulin resistant. The exact mechanics of this are still unknown but being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle are major contributors. If you’re obese, you’re 6 times more likely to develop diabetes.

Can diabetes be cured?

While there is no cure for diabetes, tackling obesity can help you manage the condition better. Hence, weight loss in diabetes is important.

You can lose excess weight by increasing physical activity and having a balanced diet. Exercising regularly is essential for utilising the sugar in your bloodstream and reducing fat deposits.

Eating healthy food items (unrefined, whole foods, with low to zero saturated and trans-fat, low carbohydrates, high fibre and protein) along with exercising is ideal for losing weight. Stay away from high-carb and high-sugar foods as they increase inflammation.

Foods good for you:

• Brown rice, quinoa, millets

• Vegetables – the more colours you have, the better

• Fresh fruits

• Plant-based protein such as tofu, beans, nuts, and soy

• Lean meats such as fish and poultry

• Low-fat dairy

• Vegetable fats such as avocado oil, olive oil, or fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids

• Unsweetened beverages

Foods bad for you:

• Refined flour products

• Cereals without whole grains

• Canned vegetables

• Canned fruits, jams, jelly, packaged juices

• Fatty cuts of meat, red meat

• Regular dairy products

• Trans-fats, hydrogenated fats

• Soft drinks, energy drinks

While lifestyle changes such as diet and regular exercise can make diabetes manageable, oral medication is sometimes prescribed too.