Does Obesity Cause Diabetes?

There are lots of bad consequences that obesity causes, but certainly one of the most developed is diabetes. For that reason, researchers use a new terminology for this condition- diabesity. As the reports that the Centers for Disease Control have done, diabetes has officially turned into epidemic. The statistics show that almost 17 million people living in The USA have diabetes, which means a 49 percent increase in the past decade!

In general, diabetes has the two main forms - Type 1 and Type 2. Another name for Type 1 diabetes is insulin-dependent diabetes which comes from the inability of body to produce insulin, leaving the person dependent on regular injections of insulin so as to regulate blood sugar levels. Typically, this type of diabetes develops early in life, but it can also occur secondary to uncontrolled or advanced Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, which is also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, is strongly associated with obesity, inactive and consuming a poor diet. This form of diabetes was previously associated with aging, but we are seeing it occur in many youth and children today because of their greater propensity toward obesity, lack of activity and poor eating habits.

The connection between obesity and diabetes is very deep, meaning that almost more than 60 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes are classified as obese. It is because obesity leads to the development of a condition called insulin resistance. Insulin is a kind of hormone released from the pancreas as the reaction of elevated blood sugar. After we have eaten something, our food is broken down and digested. The sugar that is absorbed from our meal causes our blood sugar level to increase. Insulin works to bring sugar (glucose) into the cell where it is used for energy, thus making our blood sugar lower down.

Due to the insulin resistance, our body cannot respond properly to the insulin it already produces. Consequently, blood sugar level keeps being increased, and the body produces even more insulin trying to lower the sugar levels. However, since the body is resistant to insulin, it is unable to bring the blood sugar down, and remains elevated.

According to the researchers, the more you suffer from obesity, the greater your chances to suffer from diabetes are. Hence, you should really take this information into consideration, as it can be a motivating point to start paying more attention to your body and your health.

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