Which Type of Diabetes Is Associated With Obesity?

Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity.

About 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are either overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. They are at six times higher risk of developing diabetes than those in a healthy weight range (1).

Thus, obesity is an independent risk factor and a common cause of diabetes.

How Is Obesity Related to Diabetes?

In obese individuals, the adipose tissue releases high amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, certain hormones, non-esterified fatty acids, and glycerol, which can actively cause your cells to develop insulin resistance (2).

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to glucose in your blood and serves the purpose of helping your cells absorb this sugar and use it for energy. In normal circumstances, excess sugar would be converted into fat—but for obesity patients with insulin resistance, these cells don't respond well enough to the hormone, and glucose can’t enter the cells. Instead, it starts building up in the blood (3), leading to high blood glucose and type 2 diabetes.

Does Obesity Lead to Type-2 Diabetes?

The most common method to determine excess weight is by calculating your body mass index (BMI) by dividing your weight in kg by your height in meters squared. Individuals with a BMI of 25-29.9 are considered overweight, a BMI of 30-39.9 is considered obese, and a BMI of 40 or greater is morbidly obese.

The more weight you carry in your body, the more resistant your muscle and tissue cells become to insulin, and the higher chance you have of developing type 2 diabetes. Knowing the causes of obesity and enrolling in a comprehensive weight management program can help you prevent this.

In addition to that, most obese people have unhealthy eating habits, live sedentary lives, and may already have other metabolic disorders such as high cholesterol and blood pressure—all of which are predisposing factors to type 2 diabetes. Therefore, obesity not only makes you more likely to develop diabetes, but it can also worsen already existing diabetes. A diet meal plan specially tailored to reduce insulin resistance can help with both.

On the other hand, obese people who practice some form of physical activity are better off than the ones who don’t. In fact, there is an inverse correlation between exercise and diabetes.

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided by DarioHealth Corp. programs is general in nature and is not meant to replace the advice or care you get from your doctor or other health care professional.

Resources

1. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/338934/Adult_obesity_and_type_2_diabetes_.pdf
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7553667/
3. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance

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