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- Reading food labels: Tips if you have diabetes
- Insulin and weight gain: Keep the pounds off
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Insulin and weight gain: Keep the pounds off
Insulin and weight gain often go hand in hand, but weight control is possible. If you need insulin therapy, here's how to minimize — or avoid — weight gain.
By Mayo Clinic staffWeight gain is a common side effect for people who take insulin — a hormone that regulates the absorption of sugar (glucose) by cells. However, controlling your weight is not only possible but also an important part of your overall diabetes management plan.
The link between insulin and weight gain
When you take insulin, glucose is able to enter your cells, and glucose levels in your blood drop. This is the desired therapeutic goal. However, if the number of calories you take in and your activity level result in more calories than you need to maintain a healthy weight, your cells will get more glucose than they need. Glucose that your cells don't use accumulates as fat.
Weight gain may also be related to other complex functions of insulin in the body related to how cells use fats and proteins.
Next page(1 of 2)
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- Insulin basics. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/medication/insulin/insulin-basics.html. Accessed June 30, 2011.
- Lau DC. Diabetes and weight management. Primary Care Diabetes. 2010;4:S24.
- Russell-Jones D, et al. Insulin-associated weight gain in diabetes - causes, effects and coping strategies. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. 2007;9:799.
- What I need to know about eating and diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/eating_ez/index.aspx. Accessed June 30, 2011.
- Diabetes and me: Eat right. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/eatright.htm. Accessed July 1, 2011.
- Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults: Be active your way: A fact sheet for adults. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/factSheetAdults.aspx. Accessed July 1, 2011.
- Biguanide. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/medicines_ez/insert_E.aspx. Accessed July 1, 2011.
- Amylin mimetic. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/medicines_ez/insert_L.aspx. Accessed July 1, 2011.
- Incretin mimetic. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/medicines_ez/insert_M.aspx. Accessed July 1, 2011.
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