Weight changes are common among people with diabetes mellitus, and managing weight with diabetes is essential. There is an association between diabetes and weight gain. Let’s identify factors related to weight gain to target strategies that help prevent weight gain.
Can diabetes make you gain weight?
Well, yes, gaining weight with diabetes is possible. Individuals who have diabetes often experience weight gain because of medications, along with a sedentary lifestyle. Moreover, a lack of physical activity can contribute to weight gain, leading to higher blood glucose levels and unhealthy cholesterol levels. As with age, most individuals will experience some weight gain, diabetes patients are more likely to gain weight faster. Furthermore, unhealthy lifestyle choices such as consuming a lot of sugar, caffeine, and alcohol, and not getting adequate physical activity can increase the risk of weight gain.
Weight gain and diabetes medications: Adequate blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes can prevent long-term microvascular complications and prevent or slow down the progression of the macrovascular disease related to diabetes. Insulin therapy is considered effective in attaining and maintaining appropriate blood sugar control. However, along with achieving blood sugar control, weight gain is common after initiating insulin therapy. Excess insulin and weight gain are always linked. The close association between weight gain and diabetes medications is also shown by certain other medications, such as sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones. Proper guidelines should be followed at the appropriate time, and insulin therapy should be initiated only under the supervision of a healthcare specialist, taking into account individual characteristics and preferences. Because weight gain is an important factor in this choice, the start of the insulin treatment is often delayed in obese individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Weight gain is usually a side effect of type 2 diabetes treatment (insulin treatment). For diabetes patients who need to control both diabetes and weight gain, the condition can be frustrating; patients may feel that the problem is a part of the treatment. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, achieving adequate blood sugar control is an essential task. Insulin treatment is initiated when other treatments are ineffective or contraindicated, meaning they are not safe for a particular individual. The cost of insulin varies, and lower-cost insulin is often associated with weight gain.
Link between insulin and weight gain
Type 2 diabetes is a serious challenge to healthcare services across the world. The disease is complex, involving multiple mechanisms affecting multiple organs. Insulin therapy is required in case of progressing deteriorating blood sugar control. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate how the body absorbs glucose (sugar). It is considered the most effective treatment for glycaemic control (the management of blood glucose levels to keep them within a target range). It is associated with reductions in microvascular complications (nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy). However, there is a close association between weight gain and diabetes. Research shows that most insulin-associated weight gain occurs within the first 3 years of starting insulin therapy. At the same time, antidiabetic therapy can improve the glycaemic control at the start. It’s not always supported by long-term sustained glycaemic improvement.
When you take insulin, sugar may enter your cells. This lowers blood sugar levels, which is the treatment’s ultimate goal. But if you are someone who consumes more calories than you require to keep a healthy weight, your cells will likely get more sugar than they need. This condition may also develop in patients who don’t have diabetes. The number of calories you need usually depends on how active you are.
Lowering the risk while taking insulin
Managing weight with diabetes can be tough, but not impossible. Religiously following these tips can help you control both weight gain and diabetes:
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- Eating a balanced diet and being physically active most days of the week can help you avoid weight gain. Most of your plate should be filled with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Preplan your meals to ensure the right mix of starches, vegetables, fruits, proteins, and fats. In general, the recommended meals would consist of half a non-starchy vegetable, one-quarter of protein, and a quarter of starchy vegetables or grains. This meal plan helps you get enough fibre and nutrients while managing calories and carbohydrate intake. Minimise the size of your portions. You can talk to your healthcare specialist or consult a dietitian to learn how to plan meals and where to find resources. It is not a good idea to skip a meal to cut calories. When you skip meals, the chances of making unhealthy diet choices at the next mealtime are higher because you are too hungry. In some people, skipping meals can also lead to low blood sugar levels, especially when they don’t adjust their insulin dose.
- Physical activity helps burn extra calories. A workout of at least 150 minutes a week (or 30 minutes five days a week) is generally recommended for most adults. The workout should include moderately intense aerobic activity plus muscle-strengthening exercises at least twice a week. Aerobic activities include bicycling, walking, dancing, water aerobics, and gardening. One can also discuss physical activities and workouts with their healthcare professionals to determine what is right for them. One can also discuss the ways to handle exercise. Any physical activity helps your body use insulin more effectively. Depending on how much exercise you do, you may need to reduce your insulin dose or eat a snack. There is a possibility that your blood sugar levels can drop even hours after exercise.
- Certain diabetes medications that help in the regulation of blood sugar levels may help you lose weight and reduce your insulin dosage. These medications include metformin, liraglutide, exenatide, dulaglutide, saxagliptin, sitagliptin, empagliflozin, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and pramlintide. Discuss with your healthcare specialist if these or any other medications can be included in your diabetes treatment regimen.
- It is important to take insulin as directed by the healthcare specialist. Do not reduce or skip your insulin dosages to stop weight gain. However, you might lose some weight once you begin taking less insulin than prescribed. But it comes with an obvious risk that may cause serious issues. Without adequate insulin, your blood sugar level will increase, which in turn increases the risk of diabetes complications.
Conclusion
Weight gain is common among patients with diabetes. While this is something you shouldn’t panic about, it is a problem that one must address if they maintain a healthy weight and live longer with diabetes. Diabetes patients receiving insulin therapy often gain weight, and this weight gain can be extremely frustrating. Excess insulin and weight gain are concerning for diabetes patients. Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to managing your diabetes. If you are careful about your food choices and closely monitor your blood glucose levels, you can keep your weight under control.
