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May 26, 2006
Diabetes and weight loss
by SirGan
 Diabetes is a medical disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia- high blood sugar levels, resulting from the defective secretion or action of the hormone insulin. The insulin is the principal hormone that regulates uptake of glucose into most cells from the blood, primarily muscle and fat cells, but not central nervous system cells. This means that if there is enough insulin the sugar will enter the cells and be utilized as a fuel. When the level of insulin is too low- although there could be a lot of glucose in the circulation- it will not enter cells and couldn’t be used as a fuel! Weight gain is common after starting insulin therapy, especially in men diabetics! Statistics show that nearly 9 out of 10 people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes are overweight! Diabetes basicsThere are several kinds of diabetes, and the most common are:
It is also called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and characterized by decreased or absent production of insulin. Type 1 diabetes almost always requires insulin injections, and is fatal without its proper use. It is considered to be an autoimmune disorder! The theory is that during the disease, body makes antibodies that attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. No one really knows exactly what could be the cause because it is very complex and unclear, and may involve genetics, viruses, diet and environmental factors such as chemicals. It is important to know that people with type 1 diabetes must supply insulin by injection, pump or other methods.
It was also called adult onset diabetes, obesity related diabetes, or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and it is characterized by body tissue resistance to insulin action, although in most cases-secretion of insulin is normal! It is important to know that type 2 is by far the most common form, especially in developed countries, and is caused by a decrease in the ability to signal via the insulin receptor. Type 2 diabetes can often be managed by dietary adjustments and monitoring, weight reduction, exercise, and oral medication.
There are several rare causes of diabetes mellitus that can't be classified as type 1, type 2:
Glucose - purpose in human organismGlucose is a type of sugar, called monosaccharide, derived from the breakdown of complex carbohydrates and proteins. It is important to know that it represents the exclusive fuel of the human nervous system and the primary fuel of most of the other systems in the body.
That’s why, it is logical to assume that a healthy level of glucose in the blood is essential to life and health. What happens if the glucose level is too low? Well, the nervous system and muscular system is starved for fuel and begins to malfunction. The first symptoms include
Hyperglycemia is harmful to all internal organs and tissues and accelerates the aging process by facilitating the formation of chemical bonds between glucose and the proteins found in the body.
Diabetes and weight changesObesity and type 2-diabetes are tightly linked. Nearly 9 out of 10 people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes are overweight! Proven fact is that the more overweight someone is, the higher their risk of getting diabetes. Also, the longer a person has been overweight, the greater the risk. Obesity may even sometimes lead to diabetes because of its effects on insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. The fact is that weight gain is common after starting insulin therapy and that’s a proven fact. Many people gain 0.5- 1.5 kg as the supplemental insulin begins to control their blood sugar. Weight gain is more common in women than in men, but, it's difficult to predict who will gain weight. How this weight gain occur?
What are the causes of weight gain?There are many reasons why people gain weight when they begin insulin therapy. One theory is that one's metabolism slows down when blood sugars come under control. The additional weight can increase your cells' resistance to insulin and may therefore increase your need for medication, creating a vicious circle of increased weight and insulin resistance.
Although most of the patients realize that their weight can make a big difference in their diabetes control- they must be aware of the fact that losing weight won’t cure type 2-diabetes. But, it will bring glucose levels down. Weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds can be enough to improve diabetes control. The closer to normal that diabetics keep their glucose levels-the fewer complications they will have. What happens if the person is overweight and have diabetes? In people with Type 2 diabetes, who are usually overweight, the beta cells in the pancreases cannot produce enough insulin to maintain a balance.
Beside the fact that people with diabetes are more likely to be overweight, they are also in risk to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. At least one out of every five overweight people has several metabolic problems at once, which can lead to serious complications like heart disease.
Weight loss for diabeticsLosing weight and keeping it off for good is definitely a real challenge for most people. That’s why it would be best if diabetic would start with some healthy meal plan as soon as possible! It can help you find ways to decrease calories but still consume the foods you enjoy. It's important to remember that losing even a relatively small amount of weight can make a real improvement in reducing your risk for diabetes and other serious conditions.
ExerciseExercise is also known as a beneficial factor in maintaining healthy glucose level! It doesn’t have to be some precise physical exercises- it includes anything that gets you moving, such as walking, dancing, or working in the yard. The fact is that when you're physically fit, you have the strength, flexibility, and endurance needed for your daily activities. Being physically active helps you feel better physically and mentally.
Counting Carbohydrates and FiberCarbohydrates are one of the major food categories, beside proteins and fats. There are two types of carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates are mainly found in the following food groups:
Carbohydrate counting is a method of meal planning that is a simple way to keep track of the amount of total carbohydrate a person eat each day. What's so good about this plan? It helps allow you to eat what you want. Counting grams of carbohydrate and evenly distributing them at meals will help you control your blood glucose. With carbohydrate counting, you plan your carbohydrate intake based on what your pre-meal sugar is and your intake or insulin dose can be adjusted.
Fibers are also very important because diets high in fiber are associated with lower risks of obesity, hypertension, heart disease and strokes.
A number of special diets have been developed to reduce weight in diabetics and some studies suggest that replacing foods high in fats with low-fat complex carbohydrates may be more effective than calorie counting, particularly in maintaining weight loss.
Food guide for people with diabetesA healthful diet provides the nutrients your body needs and decreases your risk for heart disease and other conditions.
Key points of such plan are:
Important!Extreme diets of less than 1,100 calories carry health risks and are often followed by bingeing or overeating and a return to the obese state. Important thing to know is that, while intentional weight loss in people with diabetes is usually a good thing, unintentional weight loss is definitely not. If blood sugars are very high, patients with diabetes tend to urinate a lot, and this result in dehydration as a possible cause of weight loss. Also, muscle breakdown can occur if sugars are too high, causing an unhealthy weight loss.
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