DYNAMICS OF DIABETES AND OBESITY

EXCESSIVE FAT DEPOSITION IN THE ABDOMINAL COMPARTMENT DUE TO WEIGHT GAIN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON WHY INDIANS DEVELOP DIABETES. THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED INSULIN RESISTANCE AND HIGH BLOOD SUGAR. UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME IS LINKED TO INCREASED RISK OF MANY DISEASES INCLUDING CARDIAC, KIDNEY AND NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS, BLINDNESS AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION.

Senior Endocrinologist, Yashoda Hospitals

Prevalence of diabetes is increasing globally. India has recorded the maximum increase during the last few years. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the commonest form of diabetes.

It can be a life-long, chronic disease in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells don’t respond to insulin correctly (insulin resistance). Because of these problems, there isn’t enough insulin to move the glucose from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body’s cells can’t function properly.

Type 2 diabetes is more likely to occur in people who are over the age of 40, overweight, or have a family history of diabetes. Recently, an increased occurrence of Type 2 diabetes in youngsters and teenagers has been noticed, due to poor lifestyle and dietary patterns causing obesity. Certain ethnic and racial groups also have higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. According to recent research, Type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, but glucose levels can return to nondiabetes range (complete remission) or pre-diabetes glucose level (partial remission). People with Type 2 diabetes achieve remission primarily by losing significant amounts of weight.

Too much weight gain can again trigger the recurrence of high blood sugar. Hence weight loss once achieved needs to be maintained by consistent effort, best done by good lifestyle management.