Management of Obesity in Patients With Diabetes in Little Elm, TX
Obesity is one of the leading causes of diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes. There has been consistent evidence that shows that proper obesity management can delay the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes, improve glycemic control, and even minimize the need for glucose-lowering therapies in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Classes of medications that can help with weight loss in diabetes patients include metformin, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter two inhibitors. Metformin is the first-line therapy for blood-glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Over the years, it has been shown to have beneficial effects on weight management. GLP-1 agonists such as exenatide, liraglutide, lixisenatide, and semaglutide are mostly prescribed as adjuncts to metformin treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Relationship Between Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Obesity is a condition that occurs when a person is extremely overweight, and it affects their health. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes describes a heterogeneous group of metabolic conditions that affect the way the body processes blood glucose.
Obesity and type 2 diabetes share a close association as obesity is a common risk factor that can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.
A lot of research has demonstrated that maintaining a moderate weight and making certain lifestyle adjustments can help control or prevent diabetes. Studies in a sample population have also shown that adults with diabetes had obesity, and a small percentage even had extreme obesity.
Obesity usually results in a minimal level of chronic inflammation, which plays a part in the development of diabetes. Having too much fat means the tissues have to process more nutrients than they can manage, which results in stressing your body and, in turn, triggers inflammation.
During inflammation, there’s an increase in the production of cytokines in the body, and the cytokines can block the signals of insulin receptors which results in insulin resistance in the long run that manifests as type 2 diabetes.
How Does Your Weight Affect Your Blood Sugar and Insulin Resistance?
Insulin is a hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of blood sugar. This hormone helps determine how the body stores glucose and fat. Insulin resistance occurs when the body’s cells become resistant to insulin, and insulin resistance is a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
High levels of fat and excess weight can affect the way the body processes blood sugar. When the body is processing more blood sugar than it used to due to weight gain, it can lead to stress which can induce inflammatory responses that interfere with the signalling of the insulin receptors needed by the body to convert sugar into energy.
Thus, insulin resistance is developed, and blood sugar levels remain high.
Risk Factors for Obesity
Several factors can increase a person’s risk of obesity, and taking active measures to address some of these risk factors can help minimize your chances of developing obesity.
- Lack of physical activity and exercise.
- Unhealthy eating habits and eating food rich in saturated fat and excess calories.
- Not getting enough good-quality sleep can result in fatigue and reduced capacity for physical activity, which encourages weight gain.
- High levels of stress result in hormonal changes that increase appetite and promote fat storage.
- Health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome increase the possibility of developing obesity.
- The genetic composition of an individual is also a risk factor. Variations in genetics make it difficult to treat and prevent genetically based obesity.
- Medications such as insulin, antidepressants, and many others are associated with side effects such as weight gain.
- Environmental factors such as food availability, age, and lack of infrastructure that encourage physical activity can predispose one to obesity.
Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
The leading risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus include:
- Obesity: Being overweight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
- Family history: Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes is also a risk factor.
- Age: As you grow older, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases. You can develop type 2 diabetes if you’re 45 years or older.
- Past medical history: Previous history of prediabetes or gestational diabetes is also a risk factor.
- Race: If you’re an African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native person, you’re at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than others.
The Role of Weight Control in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes
Obesity and diabetes are closely linked, especially abdominal obesity, making weight reduction a major therapeutic goal in both the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. The most effective type 2 diabetes care is aimed at weight control and reducing other risk factors as well as enhancing overall quality of life.
Certain studies have shown that weight reduction with intensive lifestyle intervention can reduce the incidence of diabetes by 58 percent. Therefore, it’s important to control weight when managing patients with type 2 diabetes.
Lifestyle modifications such as intense physical activity and a healthy diet are the foundation of weight loss in diabetic care. However, it’s difficult to develop and maintain these habits for the long term.
Pharmacotherapy is the alternative option for individuals with type 2 diabetes. The conventional anti-diabetic medications and medications used to treat the complications of diabetes usually result in weight gain.
But with recent researchers considering improvement of blood glucose control and prevention of pharmacologically induced weight gain as goals of pharmacologic treatment of diabetics, new classes of drugs such as the glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter two inhibitors that prevent weight gain and help control type 2 diabetes have now been developed.
Body Weight Considerations in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes
It’s important to consider body weight when managing type 2 diabetes. Glucose-lowering agents like Sulphonylurea, Thiazolidinediones, Meglitinides, and Insulin are associated with weight gain and are usually not recommended for overweight individuals.
Metformin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, Amylin mimetics, and sodium-glucose cotransporter two inhibitors are associated with weight loss and are used by obese patients with type 2 diabetes.
Modest weight loss (≥ 5% but < 10%) can improve diabetic control and minimize diabetes-associated complications, and significant weight loss can potentially resolve the condition, which explains why body weight consideration is important for type 2 diabetes treatment.
Dietary Guidelines from the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association has dedicated dietary guidelines for diabetic patients to eat well and manage their condition. You can start by following the Diabetes Plate Method. This simple dietary guide offers what food to include in a nine-inch plate.
You are to fill half of the plate with non-starchy vegetables, one-quarter of the plate with protein foods, and the last quarter of the plate with carbohydrate foods. Drink a glass of water or another zero-calorie drink to cool it down.
It’s important for all your healthy eating plans to include fruits and vegetables, less processed foods and added sugars as well as more lean meat and plant-based protein sources. You can visit the ADA’s official website for more dietary guidelines.
Diabetes Prevention: 5 Tips for Taking Control
- Losing excess weight and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
- Reduce your total carb intake and opt for carbs that are high in fiber to prevent diabetes.
- Exercising regularly may help prevent developing diabetes.
- Drinking more water instead of other beverages also helps a lot.
- Minimize your alcohol consumption and quit smoking.
Strategies Used for Weight Loss in Patients with T2D
Exercise
Getting active by moving around and exercising frequently is an effective strategy to facilitate weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. You can also invest in a personal trainer to help achieve your goal.
Diet
Planning out a healthy diet is key to promoting weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. Cut back on excess calorie intake.
Weight Loss Medications
Certain medications can help facilitate weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide and semaglutide are some medications used to facilitate weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. Consult your doctor to get a prescription.
Consult a specialist
When diet and exercise strategies aren’t getting you the results you want, visit a weight loss professional to help you with your weight loss journey.
FAQ
Does Obesity Cause Diabetes?
Yes, obesity can cause diabetes. The accumulation of excessive amounts of fat in the body can lead to diabetes.
Is obesity related to type 1 diabetes?
Yes, it is. Recently, increasing evidence shows that type 1 diabetes may be a complication of obesity.
Will losing weight help you reduce your chances of diabetes?
Yes, it will. Studies have shown that maintaining a healthy weight lowers the chances of developing diabetes by about 70% to 90%.
Why is weight management important for type 2 diabetes?
Excess body weight is associated with the risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, managing weight will help reduce the prevalence of the condition.
How does obesity affect type 2 diabetes?
An increase in the prevalence of obesity results in a concomitant increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes because obesity stresses the body system and promotes inflammatory responses that result in insulin resistance.
What is a commonly recommended treatment for diabetes and obesity?
Lifestyle modifications and classes of medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, Metformin, and sodium-glucose cotransporter two inhibitors are commonly recommended for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
What is the first-line drug for type 2 diabetes and obesity?
Metformin is the first line of drug for type 2 diabetes and obesity because it improves blood sugar control without causing weight gain.
Obesity and Weight Management in Little Elm, TX
Obesity is associated with numerous complications ranging from diabetes to cardiovascular disorders. Treating obesity is important to prevent these conditions.
At FOREVER SLIM, we are committed to helping you lose excess weight and maintain a healthy body weight in Little Elm, TX. We help obese patients achieve healthy body weight using effective weight-loss medications and education. We can help you achieve your weight loss goals within a short period.
If you’re obese or overweight, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with our weight loss expert today for a personalized weight management plan.
You can also give us a quick call at +1 214-295-8901