Losing Weight Can be Harder for Diabetics
After noticing that you have put on a few pounds, many run to get their gym membership renewed and clean up the fridge and pantry. Others embrace the change and only hit the stores for a wardrobe overhaul. For those who have diabetes, the above options do not favor their condition. That’s why losing weight can be harder for diabetics. If you are unaware, a person who has diabetes finds it hard to produce and regulate insulin in the body. This increases the sugars in your bloodstream above normal levels.
Those who have Type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin. Their beta cells, responsible for producing this hormone, are attacked and destroyed by their immune system. This happens when the immune system views them as invaders and kills them. For Type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin, but the body resists it. Once it progresses, the pancreas ends up producing insufficient insulin. To curb the severity of diabetes, overweight patients are advised to lose weight. But it’s harder for diabetics. However, this might prove a daunting task due to the following reasons.
1) Poor Eating Habits
As an overweight diabetic, it becomes an outright requirement for you to adjust your eating habits. It would help if you started focusing on dietary options for diabetics whose aim is to regulate blood sugars without necessarily using medication. These options should contain whole meals, high protein, and high fiber since they can leave you feeling full for long periods. These foods help reduce the amount of sugar consumed and further reduces insulin released.
Additionally, avoid foods rich in sodium since they are likely to worsen your condition. High sodium consumption increases the chances of getting hypertension, leading to heart diseases and causes stroke and death in severe cases. For diabetics, the body’s immune system is compromised, and this raises the stakes even further. Sticking to a dietary plan keeps your blood sugars in check. When you cannot make one yourself, visit trusted clinic sites online for free meal plans or rely on health experts around you to make one for you.
2) High Metabolism is Risky
Many weight loss plans available advise users to burn calories by increasing their metabolism rate but it can be harder for diabetics. This can be working out or through consuming fat-burning supplements. Without a second thought, you are likely to take them up, increasing metabolism rates where glucose depletes rather quickly.
When your body cells fail to get enough glucose, the body automatically burns fat to meet this deficit. The process leads to the production of ketones necessary for breaking down fats into energy. When produced in large amounts, ketones make the blood acidic. This is catastrophic as it leads to diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that makes you fall into a coma. Without quick medical attention, your chances of survival decrease by the minute.
3) Fasting is not an Option
Fasting has offered quick results for people looking to lose weight fast. But this way losing weight can be harder for diabetics. Fasting allows the body to burn any stored glucose as glycogen for energy. Once that is exhausted, it proceeds to burn fats.
This takes longer than breaking down everyday foods for energy. Due to the automatic withdrawal of food, you are likely to become irritable and sluggish. Intermittent fasting offers a better transition period as it allows for fasting with moderation. However, when the body lacks enough glucose, you are likely to suffer a severe case of hypoglycemia. After eating unregulated portions with high amounts of carbs, you also risk getting the opposite – hyperglycemia – which is just as bad.
4) Medication leads to Weight Gain
After a successful weight loss journey to reduce the severity can be harder for diabetics, the medicine you take might take you back to square one by increasing your weight. Once done regulating your sugars, the much-needed insulin in the body converts the excess calories to fat. This can be frustrating, and you are likely to stop treatment and healthy living due to the unrealized results.
This ruins the efforts put in place to control your condition. Many doctors will adjust your current insulin requirements and calorie intake to counter these effects to ensure you do not have the two in excess. Additionally, they can offer medication that stops insulin from converting glucose to fats when diet adjustment and insulin amounts cannot be adjusted.
5) It’s an Early sign of full-blown Diabetes for Pre diabetics
Losing a pound or two now and then is normal but it can be harder for diabetics. However, when this loss is to the extreme, it is an early sign of full-blown diabetes. Many pre-diabetics notice this change when they have not adjusted their dietary habits and workout routines. The signs occur in both the diagnosed and undiagnosed pre-diabetics. Additionally, since you are not expected to stay hungry for long, it is hard for your body to break down fats stored into energy.