Unidad de Endocrine Neck Surgery

Obesity unit

Consultants: Endocrine Neck Surgery

Consultants: Nutrition

Obesity and diabetes

Obesity is the biggest factor in the increase in the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Obesity is the excessive accumulation of fat, which can damage your health.

Blood glucose levels should be kept within narrow limits, and if they are too high or too low the result is:

Hyperglycaemia: when there is too much glucose in the blood. When this happens over a long period, the damage to the tissues and organs leads to the common complications of uncontrolled diabetes.

Hypoglycaemia: if a patient’s glucose level is too low, he or she will feel dizzy and weak, and over time the patient may fall into coma.

In type 1 diabetes, the body produces little or no insulin; treatment consists of replacing the missing hormone. In type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin normally, but the cells stop responding. This problem is known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a common consequence of obesity.

Why do obese people suffer from type 2 diabetes?

The amount of fat in the body leads to hormonal and metabolic changes that make cells less receptive to insulin.

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to deterioration of the blood vessels, and large fluctuations in blood glucose may cause cardiovascular problems.

Pregnant women who were obese before conceiving and who have type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes are more likely to miscarry. Women who develop diabetes during pregnancy are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.