Diabetes and Weight Gain

What are the relationship between Diabetes and Weight Gain ?  All your questions  and answers about Diabetes and Weight Gain | Health Tips

People with diabetes often have to contend with other problems that come with it, most notably weight gain or loss. Any one of these conditions indicates deterioration of health. Usually, rapid and unexplained weight loss is a sign of pre-diabetes or diabetes. Besides, obesity is also a risk factor for diabetes. On the other hand, weight gain is also seen as a problem for people who already have diabetes. No matter what stage of diabetes you're at or where your weight is, we know it's important to deal with these issues without overstressing yourself.

A plethora of diet and physical activity options to routinely assist adults with weight loss or gain have several guidelines that are not directly applicable to people with diabetes. Therefore, we have tried to answer various questions about weight, diabetes and their interrelationship, which embarrass people with diabetes. Understanding the physiology of weight issues is essential to being able to efficiently manage conditions such as diabetes. Let's take a look at your diabetes-related weight problems and how to effectively manage them.

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Physiology of weight gain

“If you're overweight or obese, you're at risk for diabetes” – If you're familiar with diabetes, you've probably heard this statement before. Obesity and being overweight are standard problems that can lead to diabetes. But at this stage they certainly do not work alone. A number of other risk factors can contribute and someone can develop the condition even if they are not overweight.

A second association of weight with diabetes occurs when weight loss manifests as an obvious symptom of diabetes. It mainly occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the insulin does not work properly. As a result, the body is deprived of glucose and starts using fat cells and muscles for energy. This is how one loses weight in this stage of diabetes.

Can diabetes cause you to gain weight ?

Diabetes is characterized by rapid weight loss along with other symptoms like frequent urination, increased irritability and fatigue. This association of diabetes with weight loss certainly makes identification easier. However, this has been limited to early stages of diabetes or pre-diabetes. Full-blown diabetes can present some significant weight gain problems.

When your blood sugar is high, there is also a growing supply of insulin that is sitting unused (because it is not working effectively). This unused surplus insulin inhibits fat breakdown in the body, which is stored in your muscles as excess, unused body fat. This is the easiest way for people with diabetes to gain weight.

Another cause of weight gain in diabetes is related to increased sugar levels. Because these high levels of blood sugar (or blood sugar, which is needed for energy) are not effectively absorbed by the body's cells, they are not used as intended. Consequently, they are excreted from the body through urine. But the body is still deprived of glucose, so it sends signals that it needs more, making us believe we need more sugar. In that sense a person feels hungry i.e. has an increased appetite, which if not controlled or taken care of, can easily lead us to eat more food unhealthily. Naturally, the most evident result of this cycle is weight gain.

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However, you may wonder how weight gain is becoming a problem for you even when your blood sugar levels are under control. In most cases, your diabetes medications or some other condition for which you are being treated, may be to blame.

How to control weight gain in diabetes ?

Nowadays, conventional lifestyles and diets contribute a lot to weight-related problems in every person, even when they are at the peak of their health. Considering this situation, a person with diabetes should be more careful about gaining weight and should take measures to lose fat and become healthy.

While it certainly becomes more difficult with conditions like diabetes, controlling diabetes weight gain or weight loss requires a few basic steps that everyone can follow. Here are some basic habits that people with diabetes can start to try to lose weight:

First of all,

Conscious attention to diet is necessary not only to lose weight but also to be healthy. Eating a balanced diet and choosing healthy snacking options are some things we should follow. In addition, frequent small meals are important for keeping your blood sugar levels and weight under control. It may seem contradictory but eating small meals every 2-3 hours helps you avoid getting hungry and consequently overeating and keeps you nourished.

Secondly,

Drink enough water. More often than not, we read that our body needs water just like it needs food. Water plays an important role in flushing out toxins from the body to keep our body healthy and nourished. It is normally advised to drink six to eight glasses of water per day. If that already seems like too much for you, consider carrying a water bottle with you everywhere and start taking small sips of water every now and then.

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Thirdly,

Keep the body active! Regardless of what steps you take to lose excess weight, some physical activity should be part of your plan. Doing some exercise for these muscles will not only help you lose weight, it will also relieve other health conditions, relieve stress and help improve your mental health. Also, physical activity doesn't have to be a rigorous exercise regimen that strains you. Choose activities that you like or enjoy doing, such as jogging, sports, dancing, yoga, etc. The choice is entirely yours!

Also, if you haven't done anything for a while now, start slowly. Your age or weight is not a factor, your will to health will guide you.

Most importantly, consult your nutritionist. Nutritionists are prepared to understand your condition and your health needs. Not only can they guide you with the right type of diet for your body, they can also recommend some superfoods that are suitable for you to help you lose weight as well as solve your other problems.

Additionally, make sure you monitor your blood sugar levels regularly. Consult your doctor about how often and when you should monitor your blood glucose levels.

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Is weight gain a sign of diabetes ?

Weight gain is one of the earliest and most noticeable symptoms of diabetes. It usually occurs when diabetes is uncontrolled or no external efforts are made to control it. Although we know rapid weight loss as a sign of early diabetes, weight gain can be seen as the next step. At this stage of diabetes, you are losing all the unused glucose through the urine because insulin is unable to do its job properly. Here, you are also losing calories. This is how you lose weight.

Meanwhile, as your uncontrolled diabetes progresses, your body doesn't get enough sugar or glucose to function daily. It interprets this as a need for more food and sends that signal to your brain. Your brain then tells you that the body needs more food, and you eat extra food accordingly, which only increases your calorie intake. And thus you gain weight during diabetes.

If you have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes, this could really be a sign of trouble for you. To avoid such weight-related problems that may only contribute to your condition, it is recommended to consult your doctor at the first sign of unexplained weight loss. By losing weight and reaching a normal body mass index (BMI) before the onset of diabetes, you can take another healthy step toward prevention.

Overall, weight gain is a sure sign of diabetes that has already established itself. The sooner you take remedial action, the sooner you will achieve good health.

How can people with diabetes who experience weight loss regain weight healthily ?

Going below the normal BMI range is just as unhealthy as being obese. For an Indian adult, BMI indicating a healthy weight starts at 18.5; Any number below this is considered underweight. So don't be too happy about losing weight.

People with diabetes who are underweight or who want to gain a few extra kilos for their health, are advised to start slowly. Weight gain or weight loss, quick results are not effective or sustainable in the long term. The greatest strategy is to take baby steps at first.

Like weight loss, diet also plays an important role in weight gain. There are a few things you can do to make your diet suitable for weight gain:

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Plan your meals for the whole day and keep them with you if possible. You have no choice but to eat unhealthy foods loaded with sugar; It is better to avoid it. Even if you don't have diabetes, you should be extra careful about them.

Choose foods that are high in healthy calories. Protein and healthy carbs should be included in your diet in proper proportions without compromising on other nutrient groups.

Small frequent meals are very important. Yes, that's what we said about weight loss too. But eating healthy, small amounts of food at appropriate intervals works both ways. When your body needs nutrients, it must be done before it revolts. Do not get hungry!

Physical activity is the next most important addition to your lifestyle, even when you want to gain weight. Gaining weight with a sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and we certainly don't want that. However, if you choose to exercise, you are gaining muscle mass, which is what you want at this stage. So, come on, let's get started!

Drink enough water! Flush out all the toxins and leave your body feeling hydrated. If you're already struggling with low body weight, let's not add the burden of dehydration. Lack of water in your body can cause fatigue, lightheadedness, constipation, muscle aches and increased food cravings. So don't forget to drink water.

Sleep well at night. Keep all distractions away and get the best sleep you can. Cutting back on your rest time means you're directly affecting the quality of your day. Studies suggest that it can also weaken your immune system and lead to conditions like hypertension that increase the risk of heart disease.

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Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended. Your weight gain and loss and related conditions are bound to affect diabetes. Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels helps you plan your activities accordingly.

Diabetes complicates the situation of weight gain and weight loss. Still, it's important to maintain your weight in a healthy range by taking a combination of diet, physical activity, and other measures tailored to your needs. You can certainly help yourself with apps that can track your diet and physical activity, especially those that are tailored to the needs of people with diabetes. Also, consult your doctor and nutritionist to find out how diabetes is affecting your weight.