What Causes Weight Loss Symptoms in Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that is all too prevalent in the U.S. According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately eight percent of the population in 2007 suffered from some type of diabetes. People suffering from diabetes quite often are unaware that there is anything wrong with them. Quite often they see their doctor only after experiencing a significant and unexpected weight loss.

Types

• There are several types of diabetes, the most common being type 1, or juvenile diabetes, and type 2, sometimes called adult onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that may or may not be inherited. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas has ceased all or most of its insulin production. Type 2 diabetes is most often caused by obesity, lack of exercise, age or other factors. The pancreas does produce insulin, but the body suffers from insulin resistance and is unable to use the insulin efficiently. While both types of diabetes have very different causes, the symptoms and medical ramifications are the same.

Function

• Foods that contain carbohydrates and sugars turn into glucose in our bloodstream. The pancreas reacts to the level of glucose and secretes a hormone called insulin. The insulin then bonds with the glucose, allowing it to provide food for the brain and energy for the body. The reaction also allows excess sugar to be stored away as fat, as well as the ability for the body to feed off of that fat when there is no other food available.

  When diabetes is left untreated or not properly medicated, high blood glucose levels result. Since there is no insulin to bond with the glucose, or the insulin is not bonding properly, the body is not able to convert the glucose into much-needed energy. It then begins to get its energy from the stores of fat in the body, resulting in a loss of weight. Once the diabetic begins a regimen of a low-carbohydrate, low-sugar diet, injected or oral medication and consistent exercise, the body's function returns to normal and the fat stores will be replenished.

  The weight loss scenario can be a bit more complicated in type 2 diabetics suffering from insulin resistance. Since their pancreas is still creating insulin, they not only have an excess of glucose in the bloodstream, but also excess insulin. Since insulin is an anabolic hormone responsible for the stores of fat in the body, the more unused insulin circulating in the blood, the more fat being stored. Basically, the weight is causing the excess insulin and the excess insulin is causing the diabetic to stay overweight. The only way to end this cycle is for the diabetic to intentionally lose weight through diet and exercise.