Understanding Diabesity: The Link Between Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

What Is Diabesity?

Diabesity means having both obesity and type 2 diabetes. Diabesity isn’t an official diagnosis. Together their closely related conditions increase your risk of heart diseases.

According to the International Diabetes Foundation in 2022, 415 million adults are affected by diabetes and by 2040 this number is estimated to increase to 642 million worldwide.

According to WHO 58.1% of Pakistanis are overweight and 43.9% are obese. Being overweight raises your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Does Everyone With Obesity Develop Diabetes?

Being obese increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes about 6 times. Obesity also causes diabetes to worsen fast. But it is not necessary that everyone with obesity automatically gets diabetes.

Other Factors Which Come Into Play

• Genetics
• Diet
• Exercise
• Stress
• Gut health

Effects Of Weight Loss On Diabetes

Shedding some weight can be helpful in treating diabetes mellitus types 2. Even losing as little as 5-10% of body weight can improve type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The first and foremost treatment for diabesity is to get and maintain a healthy weight along with eating a low carb diet. Changing your dietary habits and being consistent with exercise can be challenging. But! Hard work is worth it to avoid serious complications of uncontrolled diabetes like kidney failure, heart disease and nerve damage.

Ready to take the first step towards better health? Consult your physician for guidance regarding options to beat diabesity.