People who take insulin to manage their blood sugar are often plagued by unwanted weight gain. Although insulin can cause your body to store extra glucose as fat, you can make changes to your diet and lifestyle in order to keep your weight in check.
Measuring tape
What Is Insulin?
Insulin is a hormone that is made by groups of islet cells, which are located in the pancreas. Insulin helps cells throughout the body absorb and use the glucose (sugar) that remains after the body's digestive system breaks down food. The glucose is then used for energy.
Significance
Without insulin, our bodies would essentially be in a constant state of starvation. Insulin provides cells with the energy they need--glucose--to perform vital functions. Without the assistance of insulin, cells would be unable to access the calories that are found in glucose.
Insulin Deficiancies and Resistance
People who are deficient in insulin are classified with Type 1 Diabetes. Insulin deficiencies are treated with replacement insulin via shots or pumps. People who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes, the more common type of diabetes, become resistant to insulin. This means that although the levels of insulin in their blood streams are normal or even above average, their body is unable to use it. Insulin resistance is treated using medication, a careful diet and, in some cases, insulin shots.
Weight Gain
The Mayo Clinic says that insulin and weight gain go hand in hand. While insulin therapy works to keep diabetes under control, the unfortunate side effect is that the abundance of glucose in the body winds up being converted to fat.
Lifestyles Changes
Prior to taking insulin you may have been able to eat a large amount of food without gaining weight, because your body didn't use the food as it should have. But now that you are on insulin, your body is able to get what it needs from food, so you should not have to eat as much. Taking insulin as directed, watching your calorie consumption, eating a well-balanced diet and keeping physically active can help you maintain your current weight and even help you lose weight.
Medication Choices
If you find that eating a well-balanced diet and incorporating daily physical activity does not prevent weight gain, speak to your physician about other diabetes medications. Some diabetes medications are able to promote weight loss and may also allow you to reduce the amount of insulin you take.
Precautions
Don't be tempted to skip meals or insulin doses to lose weight. Neglecting to eat properly or take your insulin can cause hypoglycemia, which is an extremely low level of blood sugar. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can result in dizziness, convulsions and loss of consciousness. Early signs include sweating, anxiety, tremors, hunger, headaches and cloudy vision.
Tags: your body, blood sugar, diabetes medications, eating well-balanced, eating well-balanced diet
