“There’s evidence that the weight lost after these procedures can put diabetes into remission and reduce the risk from its complications,” says Dunn. Exercise of any kind speeds up the metabolism and accelerates weight loss. Experts, including Dunn, advise adopting a healthy behavior you can live with, and add more changes when you can. In addition, if a person consumes alcohol, females should limit intake to one drink per day, and males should limit intake to two drinks per day. Increased urination and thirst are early signs of diabetes in children, just as they are in adults.
Does having a steady blood sugar level cause weight loss and does the opposite cause weight gain? This is a question that many people are curious about when it comes to managing their weight. The relationship between blood sugar levels and weight is indeed complex and can vary from person to person.
If you see someone having a severe hypoglycemic reaction, call 911 or take them to the nearest hospital for treatment. Don’t try to give an unconscious person food, fluids, or insulin, as they may choke. After giving someone else a glucagon treatment, you should roll them over on their side. If the person has passed out, they should wake up within 15 minutes of receiving the glucagon. If they don’t wake up during that time, give them another injection or nasal spray. Once they are awake and can safely swallow, give them a fast-acting carbohydrate (such as juice) and a long-acting carbohydrate (such as a sandwich).
When your blood sugar levels are stable, you are less likely to experience cravings for sugary or high-calorie foods. This can lead to better food choices and ultimately result in weight loss. On the other hand, if your blood sugar levels are constantly spiking and crashing, it can lead to increased hunger and overeating, which may contribute to weight gain.
However, this depends on the workout’s intensity and duration, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Healthcare providers might recommend an exercise routine with a meal plan when treating diabetes. If you’re not diagnosed with diabetes but seeing consistent drops when standing on the scale, you may want to take note.
However, it can bounce around from day to day for reasons like poor sleep, where you’re at in your menstrual cycle, or your stress levels. With diabetes and insulin resistance (which can be a precursor to diabetes), the cells struggle to derive the sugar they need from the blood for energy. In turn, the pancreas produces an abundance of insulin (as if in an attempt to kick the cells into action) while the excess sugar in the blood is, over time, converted into fat. If the insulin dose is too high, blood sugar levels can fall too far, leading to hypoglycemia.
In the general population, healthy blood sugar levels range from 60 to 140 mg/dl. Hypoglycemia, otherwise known as low blood sugar levels, is when the concentration of sugar in the blood goes below the normal range. This happens when you have too many episodes of low blood sugar. Over time, your body gets used to these episodes and stops sending out its usual alarm signals, such as hunger or shakiness. As a result, you might not notice when your blood sugar gets low.
Personal experiences with blood sugar levels and weight can also play a role in determining how they are related. Some individuals may notice that their weight fluctuates depending on how well they are able to manage their blood sugar levels through diet and lifestyle choices.
In some instances, you can control blood sugar levels just by losing weight, as the Mayo Clinic reports [13]. And although it might seem like you can draw a clear connection between low blood sugar and weight loss, it’s not exactly true. Low blood sugar levels (or hypoglycemia), in fact, make you excessively hungry and might prompt binge eating [7].
Incretin levels can be particularly relevant in the context of T2DM. Instead, your doctor may suggest supplemental insulin treatments or other medications to make sure your blood sugar normalizes. From there, your goal is to wait until their glucose returns below their personalised trigger before eating. As shown in the image below from our Data-Driven Fasting app, waking glucose decreases as people lose weight.
Overall, maintaining a steady blood sugar level through balanced meals, regular exercise, and adequate hydration can have a positive impact on weight management. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best approach for your individual needs and goals.
