While both diabetes and obesity are two different chronic diseases, they share a close association.
Obesity is when you have excess body fat that may affect your health. A person is said to have obesity if his/her body mass index (BMI) is higher than the normal range – BMI is the measure of body fat based on weight and height.
Diabetes is when there is excess sugar in your blood, meaning there is a problem with how your body processes blood sugar. There are three common types of diabetes, of which type 2 diabetes (a type of diabetes that mostly affects adults) is closely linked to obesity.
Let’s talk about the association between obesity and diabetes, how your doctor can manage both, and where you can go for obesity management in West Orange, NJ.
The Link Between Diabetes and Obesity
Our pancreas manages the level of sugar in our blood. Pancreas produces insulin – a hormone that moves the glucose out of your blood into the muscle tissues for use and into the liver for storage.
When you have diabetes, your cells do not let insulin move into them. Meanwhile, the area of the liver where excess glucose is normally stored is filled with fat, especially if you are obese. With nowhere to be stored and used, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream.
This makes the pancreas produce even more insulin to accomplish the job (push against the resistance created by the fat), causing it to wear out. A worn-out pancreas produces less insulin. This way, diabetes develops and then quickly worsens if fat resistance remains.
Excess fat is also believed to cause inflammation, contributing to insulin resistance and diabetes.
How Are Diabetes and Obesity Managed?
The following are some of the ways through which your doctor can manage your diabetes and obesity.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the very first step toward the management of diabetes and obesity. Early diagnosis of both diabetes and obesity allows your doctor to manage them before they become severe.
Routine screening tests are one good way to diagnose diabetes and obesity. Your doctor can diagnose diabetes with tests like an A1C test, random blood sugar test, glucose tolerance test, etc. If your BMI is above 25, your doctor may recommend checking your blood sugar level due to the association between both conditions.
Treatment
Managing weight and keeping it under the normal range can significantly help manage diabetes. To manage your weight, your doctor will work with other healthcare professionals like dietitians to develop a plan. The treatment plan for obesity may include weight-loss medications, dietary changes, behavioral changes, and exercise recommendations.
Your doctor will prescribe anti-diabetic medications or insulin to control your blood sugar level. In severe cases, they may refer you to an endocrinologist who can do a pancreas transplant.
Bariatric surgery may also be recommended in patients with diabetes and obesity. This surgery has shown some major improvements in blood sugar levels.
Monitoring
Chronic conditions like diabetes require continuous monitoring. So, your doctor will monitor your condition in real-time and make necessary adjustments so that you stay on track and achieve your health goals.
Weight Management and Diabetes Management Doctor in West Orange, NJ
Diabetes and obesity can significantly increase the risk of developing serious diseases like heart disease, a leading cause of death in the United States. So, it’s best to control your body weight and blood sugar level.
At Hudson MD Group, we have a broad range of providers, including primary care doctors, cardiologists, podiatrists, and more, who offer comprehensive and convenient medical services to our patients at several locations throughout Northern Jersey.
Our doctors can manage your chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity effectively, allowing you to live a healthier and happier life.
To know more about our services or schedule a consultation, call us today at (973) 705-4914 or fill out our online appointment request form.
