What You Need To Know About Obesity And Diabetes

If you’re currently battling a weight problem, you may feel that your biggest concern is the image staring back at you when you look into the mirror.  There’s no question that many of those who are experiencing higher than healthy body weights are taking a hit as far as their self-confidence is concerned.

Often it’s this lower level of self-confidence that is prompting them to take action and start up on a diet or workout program.

But, as you go off worrying about your body image, you must also take into account how this excess weight is impacting your health.  More specifically, how it’s impacting your risk of diabetes.

Let’s look further into the connection.

The Scary Stats

When it comes to diabetes, the stats are quite alarming.  In the US, 10.9 million people or 26.9% currently suffer from diabetes in the year 2010.  With more time now passed, those rates would be even higher as obesity is still on the rise.

In addition to those who are impacted by diabetes, another 35% of US adults aged 20 years or older suffered from pre-diabetes as well. So, given enough time, they may also be added to the prevalence rate above.

Furthermore, diabetes right now is the primary cause of other numerous health problems such as kidney failure, lower limb amputations, as well as blindness.  Those who suffer from diabetes are also at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, so add those to the list of reasons why you need to take action to prevent this devastating condition.

Why The Connection?

So why is being overweight such a direct link to diabetes? The primary reason why obesity can set you up to suffer from this health problem is because as you gain more and more weight, you’re going to experience a reduced level of insulin sensitivity. This means your body is less responsive to insulin that is secreted by the pancreas, which is at the heart of the diabetes condition.

Furthermore, those who are overweight also tend to be consuming a diet that’s rich in simple sugars, which also places a high burden on the pancreas to release enough insulin to control it.

Over time, these two issues working together are what lead to diabetes.

What You Can Do

So what can you do?

First, start taking action on your diet plan.  Reduce all the excess sugars you’re consuming and try and eat a calorie reduced diet. If you need help to do so, consider a fat loss support supplement such as Adiphene.

In addition to that, also be sure that you look for little ways to be more active on a day to day basis.  Remember that even moderate amounts of physical activity add up, so don’t think you aren’t making progress if you choose to go for a 10 minute walk after work or get up earlier for a 10 minute strength workout.

It will add up and put you one step ahead of the game in reducing your risk of diabetes. Take action now so you can have a healthier tomorrow.

http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf