Weight loss is usually a good thing. Reaching a healthy weight via nourishing diet and regular exercise offers many benefits for complete wellness. But what about weight loss which is unplanned? Slight variations in weight, a couple of pounds are regular. But, if a person has lost above 10 pounds, it might be an indication that something’s not right.
Unexplained weight loss might be an indication of diabetes. Diabetes is a common metabolic condition and is chronic in nature. It has an impact on the way body uses glucose from the foods a person consumes. Diabetes may cause several health issues. These may range from nerve damage to vision problems if left unmanaged. If a person observes unexplained weight loss or other signs, it’s vital to discuss with a doctor.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that prevents a person’s body from using glucose properly as fuel. It’s basically a two-part issue. The pancreas loses its capacity to make sufficient amount of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Simultaneously, the cells stop responding to insulin and take in less glucose. It is known as insulin resistance. Ultimately, this cycle causes an unhealthy accumulation of glucose in the blood. This results in Type 2 diabetes. If those high blood glucose levels fail to reduce, the condition may cause many health conditions. These may include:
- Nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy)
- Cardiovascular disorders (including heart attack and stroke)
- Kidney disease
- Vision loss
- Skin infections and disorders
Diabetes is lethal. It kills many people and mortality rate is higher than AIDS and breast cancer as per the ADA. It’s important to manage the type 1 or type 2 signs and glucose levels.
How diabetes can cause weight loss
Insulin is a hormone the body forms to absorb sugar from the foods you eat. Insulin converts glucose into energy. This energy fuels a person’s brain, muscles, and the rest of the body.
If a person is diabetic, his or her body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin. Consequently, glucose stays in the bloodstream rather than being converted into energy. This brings about a spike in the levels of blood sugar. As the sugar stays in a person’s blood, his or her body doesn’t get the fuel it requires. Therefore, it starts to burn fat and muscle for energy, which can give rise to an unexplained weight loss.
Diabetes can be of two major types, Type 1 and Type 2. With Type 1 diabetes, the body forms little or no insulin. And, the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells. Type 1 diabetes often develops in early juvenile days.
With Type 2 diabetes, the body fails to form enough insulin or becomes resistant to it. This type of diabetes happens later in life. It is thought to develop because of lifestyle factors. These can be obesity or being inactive and genetic factors.
Link Between Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Insulin resistance is just one segment of the Type 2 diabetes equation. Also, being overweight causes a reduction in the levels of ghrelin. It is a hormone that plays a role in controlling the food intake and energy metabolism. These may involve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
Even though, everyone with Type 2 diabetes is not obese, obesity is a critical risk factor for the condition. It enhances the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by at least 6 times. This can be irrespective of the genetic predisposition.
Bariatric Surgery
When a type 2 diabetic person loses weight via diet and exercise and/or bariatric surgery:
- insulin sensitivity improves
- blood sugar control gets better
- reversal of diabetes becomes possible.
A study included obese, Type 2 diabetics. They undergone a gastric bypass surgery. It was observed that 64% remission was achieved in one year after the procedure. In another study, roughly half of diabetics who were given a 6-month diet plan and lost 30 pounds went into remission. None participants consumed any medicines during that time to control their disease. None was relying on weight loss alone. Remission isn’t similar as a cure. Few individuals would still need medicine to help maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Yet, weight loss via surgery or lifestyle changes is the most vital factor in attaining remission.
Health Benefits of Reversing Diabetes
If a person can attain remission of Type 2 diabetes, the health benefits are vital. A person would be at much less risk of developing:
- cardiovascular disease
- vision loss
- kidney disease.
Wondering if a person might be capable of reversing diabetes with weight loss? Discuss with a doctor about surgical and lifestyle options for helping a person lose weight.
Also read:- Tips for Staying Healthy in Summer
