Most of us never dreamed we’d be asking ourselves, “Does weight gain cause diabetes?”
But one day, we’re out there, enjoying life, and we notice our pants are a bit tight around the waist.
Or there’s a new bulge where before, there wasn’t.
Or maybe a well-meaning friend brings it up, much to your embarrassment.
So you jump on the scale and sure enough, you’re over the recommended weight for your height.
That’s bad enough, but then you hear that adding on pounds can hurt your health and cause serious disease–including diabetes.
Does weight gain cause diabetes? If so, how much can you gain before diabetes kicks in? Or does that happen only to some people?
Here’s what you should know:
First, not everyone who gains weight is going to acquire type 2 diabetes.
At the same time, if you become too much overweight and become obese you should know you’re more susceptible to a wide range of diseases. Diabetes is just one of them. Other issues could include strokes, heart attacks, blindness, neuropathy, kidney problems and even nervous system issues.
Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It’s not just about tight fitting clothes. It’s a potentially serious health problem.
Consider this: A morbidly obese person is twice as likely to die prematurely as a person of normal weight.
So how much weight gain is too much? When should you be concerned?
Here’s what many health experts are saying:
Having obesity makes you a candidate for diabetes, the condition of having too much sugar circulating in your bloodstream. Obesity can actually cause diabetes to worsen faster.
For many people, a weight increase of 11-18 pounds can actually double their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
So not only does an obese or overweight person have to worry about body image, emotional suffering, mobility issues but serious health issues as well. So what can you do?
First step, acknowledge that you’re overweight.
Check out online BMI calculators to see what someone of your gender and height should weigh. The results might surprise you. Check this link to an online BMI Calculator.
IMPORTANT: Learn about the blood sugar levels you must achieve,
and how to support those levels.
Second, don’t despair.
Thousands have turned this health issue around. So can you. Working with their physicians, they identified the core of their problem–often a poor diet–and have worked at lowering their weight back to normal.
They made exercise a regular part of their daily activities. They changed their diets. They reduced carbs, moderated proteins, and increased healthy fats.
The keto diet is a great example of how to do this.
For the first time, they became aware of how food and exercise impact everything. They found proven ways to lose weight and improve their health. That’s how to reduce the chances of diabetes and many other serious health issues.
So does weight gain cause diabetes?
Potentially, yes. The question is, why risk it?
Your path to health begins in the grocery store.
Choose foods wisely. Avoid carbs and sugar. That’s always a good preventative step in how to prevent obesity and diabetes.
And when you actually do go to the store, try parking further away from the front door. Exercise more. Learn to recognize healthy foods. Plan healthy meals.
Incidentally, check out smoothies (which is what I do!). Some of the best, most delicious smoothies you can imagine are also great ways to trim your waistline.
Don’t Wait to Handle Weight Gain.
So what do you have to lose? A few pounds (or a lot)? Studies show that you don’t have to lose a lot of weight to minimize your chances of acquiring diabetes.
In many cases, losing just ten to fifteen pounds makes all the difference between good health and the dreaded diabetes.
So what lessons does this teach us? It shows that excess weight can be a killer. So set your goals. Lose that weight.
It’s your life. Make it a long one.
