You may have heard more than once from different people that insulin causes weight gain. Because of this, some people believe that taking insulin to manage their diabetes will automatically cause their weight to skyrocket. Let's see where this idea comes from and whether it really is true.
- Author: Lyudmila Panchuk, editor
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It is well known that one of the main functions of insulin is to facilitate fat storage. Of course, this should only happen when there is enough energy to store. When calories consumed exceed the nutritional needs of the numerous physiological processes our body performs every day, the excess energy is stored as fat.
We must remember that every person and animal on earth needs insulin to survive and thrive. In people without diabetes, the pancreas efficiently releases the amount of insulin needed to maintain normal blood glucose levels around the clock in response to numerous variables such as food intake or stress.
Is there something special about using exogenous insulin, as opposed to what your body makes, that predisposes people with diabetes to unwanted weight?
Type 1 diabetes and insulin
In people with type 1 diabetes, insulin-producing cells are destroyed and body tissues no longer receive nutritious carbohydrates to function adequately. This is why undiagnosed patients often lose weight. Once they start taking insulin through injections or infusions, it makes sense that they might gain weight, or at least get it back into the normal range.
Sometimes weight gain occurs. However, just like a person who naturally produces their own insulin, weight gain is likely the result of lifestyle factors and, in particular, consuming too many calories.
Shockingly, a recent report states that
“Although it was traditionally thought that patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) had a lower BMI, modern research has shown the opposite. The trend toward increased prevalence of obesity increased at a faster rate in patients with T1DM compared with the general population. Currently, about 50% of patients with T1D are overweight or obese, meaning they exhibit clinical signs of type 2 diabetes, such as obesity and, often, insulin resistance.”
Experts from the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, UK, suggest several potential reasons why people may be more likely to gain weight on exogenous insulin study
“Insulin-associated weight gain may result from a decrease in blood glucose levels below the renal threshold without a compensatory reduction in caloric intake, a protective or unconscious increase in caloric intake caused by fear or experience of hypoglycemia, or the “non-physiological” pharmacokinetic and metabolic profiles that follow by subcutaneous administration [although this is largely theoretical]. ”
Taking too many calories (and corresponding insulin), which may or may not be caused by fear of the possibility of hypoglycemia, or suboptimal doses of insulin that cause hypoglycemia (and corresponding carbohydrate adjustments), may be at the center of the problem.
Experts note several possible strategies that can help reduce unwanted weight gain for patients with type 1 diabetes, including adjusting diet, increasing physical activity and exercise, adjusting insulin therapy, adding other diabetes medications that have a positive effect on body weight, or adding medications for obesity.
Overweight and diabetes
Weight gain is a common symptom of diabetes and other insulin-related diseases. Compared to people who don't have diabetes, people with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of developing overweight or obesity. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.
People who have diabetes may experience weight gain as a side effect of insulin therapy. While insulin regulates glucose levels, it also increases fat storage. Losing excess body weight can help people manage diabetes symptoms and even reverse prediabetes and insulin resistance.
People who take insulin may experience weight gain, but they should not stop taking insulin or skip doses, as this can cause complications.
Type 2 diabetes and insulin
For people with type 2 diabetes, weight gain after starting insulin therapy can also be a problem. For people with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance is a major factor. Additionally, the use of other medications to compensate for diabetes or related conditions may play a role in excess weight gain.
Interestingly, research shows that insulin therapy itself does not cause weight gain in patients with type 2 diabetes. Another study noted that insulin-related weight gain in type 2 diabetes is associated with increased sedentary behavior.
Additionally, a recent publication describes that
“By the time insulin was started, high baseline insulin dose requirements were independently associated with greater weight gain as well as lower baseline BMI. Insulin use alone was not a predictor."
Experts also note that
“Several factors are associated with weight gain and more intensive therapy: failure to compensate for calorie losses due to glycosuria, consumption of excess calories to treat more frequent episodes of hypoglycemia, excess body water due to periods of poor glucose control, and habitual overeating. In general, increasing calorie intake leads to weight gain and increased insulin resistance, which then worsens the progression of diabetes.
Hunger is a symptom of hypoglycemia, which in many cases can lead to overeating. The patient's fear of hypoglycemia may also lead to underuse of insulin or chronic overeating to try to prevent episodes of hypoglycemia. This so-called 'defensive snacking' can become a habit for many people with diabetes as they try to control or prevent episodes of hypoglycemia."
And in conclusion they say that
“Although insulin therapy carries a risk of weight gain, with careful management of diabetes-related therapy, weight gain is not inevitable. A variety of lifestyle interventions and targeted therapies are now available to achieve the smallest possible weight change while maintaining adequate glycemic control.”
Thus, as with type 1 diabetes, unwanted weight gain with type 2 diabetes is not inevitable. However, patients should be careful not to overindulge in calories and work with their healthcare provider to optimize insulin dosing and minimize incidents of hypoglycemia.
DIABETES AS A METABOLISM DISORDER
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Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is classified in medicine as a metabolic disorder (transformation, change), i.e. Diabetes mellitus is a disease caused by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin and characterized by impaired carbohydrate metabolism with an increase in the amount of glucose in the blood and urine, as well as other metabolic disorders.
Metabolism plays a role in how our body uses digested food for growth and energy. Most of what we eat is broken down into glucose. Glucose, a form of blood sugar, is the main source of fuel for our cells.
When our food is digested, glucose makes its way into our bloodstream. Our cells use glucose for energy and growth. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without insulin - insulin allows our cells to take in glucose.
Insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. After eating, the pancreas automatically releases an appropriate amount of insulin to move glucose through the bloodstream into the cells. A person with diabetes has a condition in which the amount of glucose in the blood is too high (hyperglycemia). This is because the body does not produce enough insulin, or does not produce insulin at all, or has cells that do not respond properly to the insulin that the pancreas produces. Therefore leads to too much glucose growing in the blood. Excess blood glucose is eventually eliminated from the body in urine. Even though the blood has plenty of glucose, the cells do not get the energy and growth they need.
If you are constantly thirsty with increased urination, wounds do not heal well, you are susceptible to skin infections, if you have recently felt weakness, pain or numbness in your legs, or your vision has deteriorated, you must take all measures to eliminate the possibility of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes (IDDM)
The body does not produce insulin. Some people refer to this type as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes. People usually develop type 1 diabetes before age 40, often in early adulthood or the teenage years. Type 1 diabetes is not as common as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type 1. Patients with type 1 diabetes must take insulin injections for the rest of their lives. They must also ensure proper blood glucose levels by performing regular blood tests and following a special diet. Unfortunately, type 1 diabetes is not yet curable; without insulin, this disease quickly leads to severe disability and then death. Long-term complications of type 1 diabetes (consequences of diabetic angiopathy) can be: blindness, heart attack, kidney failure, loss of teeth, dementia, trophic ulcers (up to and including amputation of limbs).
Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM)
The body does not produce enough insulin to function properly, or cells in the body do not respond to insulin (insulin resistance). Approximately 90% of all diabetes cases worldwide are type 2 diabetes.
Some people are able to manage their symptoms of type 2 diabetes by losing weight, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and controlling their blood glucose levels. However, type 2 is usually a progressive disease—it gradually gets worse—and the patient must eventually take antihyperglycemic pills or even insulin injections.
Overweight and obese people have a higher risk of developing type 2 compared to people with a healthy body weight. People with a lot of visceral fat, also known as central fat, belly fat, or abdominal fat, are especially at risk.
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is also greater as we age. Experts aren't entirely sure why, but they say that as we age, we tend to gain weight and become less physically active. People who have close relatives who have or have had type 2 are at high risk of contracting the disease.
Diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
This type affects women during pregnancy. Some women have very high blood glucose levels, their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all the glucose into the cells, resulting in progressively higher glucose levels. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made during pregnancy.
Most people with diabetes during pregnancy can manage their disease with exercise and diet. But still 10%-20% of them need to take some medications to manage their blood glucose. Undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications during childbirth. The baby may be born larger.
Prediabetes
It should be noted that losing weight (at least 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight) can prevent or delay diabetes or even reverse pre-diabetes. See: Probiotics for Obesity
The vast majority of patients with type 2 initially had pre-diabetes. Most people with pre-diabetes have no symptoms. Your doctor may test your blood to find out if your blood glucose levels are higher than normal. In prediabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Body cells become resistant to insulin. Research has indicated that even in the pre-diabetes stage, some damage to the cardiovascular system and heart has already occurred.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
*For the practical use of the properties of probiotic microorganisms in the creation of innovative drugs for the treatment and prevention of dyslipidemia and diabetes, see the description of the probiotic “Bificardio”:
On a note:
Tips for achieving or maintaining an optimal weight while on insulin therapy
- Pay attention to your diet: consuming too many calories can lead to weight gain. Making sure you're getting enough protein, an essential building block that will help you feel fuller longer, can help you minimize excess carbohydrate and fat intake (all dietary changes should be discussed with your doctor!).
- Make sure your insulin doses are set correctly: Using too much insulin causes hypoglycemia and leads to excess carbohydrate (calorie) consumption, which can lead to unwanted weight gain.
- Exercise regularly: Exercise is beneficial for improving insulin sensitivity and can make it easier to maintain your weight.
- Drink water! Water is not only a defense for the body, but also a great way to eat less! Sometimes when we think we're hungry, we just need fluids!
