Relationship between Diabetes and being Overweight

Being overweight is a global concern and in fact has become an epidemic in most parts of world. It leads to a lot of life threatening conditions including diabetes particularly type 2 diabetes. The condition is no longer just the concern among the older population even though the risk increases with age. However, a large number of the younger population is also diagnosed with being overweight. Statistically speaking, the figures are gradually increasing.

What is the relationship of diabetes and being overweight?

There are a lot of people who think that these are two separate entities. Although there is some truth in this statement, it cannot be ignored that the relationship of the two is already established. Without adequate intervention in diet and exercise, type 2 diabetes will develop over time and it does not just take years but can occur within months after becoming overweight.

Many studies have shown that being overweight and diabetes are strongly linked between each other particularly the type 2 diabetes otherwise known as the adult onset diabetes. However, there is a misnomer on the term “adult onset diabetes” because type 2 diabetes has been increasingly found among overweight children and adolescents.

What the condition is essentially about?

In type 2 diabetes, the production of insulin is adequate and appropriate but because of the complications of obesity or being overweight the body cannot use insulin the way it was supposed to be.

The normal production of insulin will become “overproduction” later on since the body could not utilize it according to its purpose. As a result, the body could no longer obtain the right amount of blood sugar levels and start developing the condition “insulin resistance.” This condition has increasingly become a result of obesity or being overweight.

How can we prevent such condition to develop?

The very root of the problem is not medical but dietary. Obesity or being overweight is highly preventable as long as you follow the right diet. Education and increase in awareness is the most important keys to solve the rise of numbers diagnosed with type-2 diabetes especially among children. It is important to tackle the issue of being overweight during its early phases in order to prevent the development of the disease.

There is a lot of information related to obesity and diabetes related literature not only in books and health magazines but also in the internet. Furthermore, diet is not the only thing that should be given attention to but also exercise. Most overweight people lead a sedentary lifestyle and this should also be taken account for if you want to prevent diabetes from developing.

Diabetes and being overweight are not hard to prevent. Mild weight loss during the course of a lifetime can significantly reduce the risk of developing this disease around 5-10%. A well balanced diet in addition to moderate exercise daily is a very important step so that your body will not adapt and be resistant to insulin. Reduction of life’s stress is also very important for long-term diabetes prevention.

If you are already suffering from obesity, it is suggested that you take even just 30 minutes of your time everyday and spend it on moderate exercise as you slowly start the process of losing weight. Not only that you will improve the quality of life you are going to live but you will also reduce any medication intake in order to control the condition. In the process, you will save money, time and effort but still develop a healthy and quality life.