Some diabetics notice that their weight has increased following they started using insulin injections, so is there a relationship between this hormone and weight gain, and what are the symptoms of high insulin, then what are the tips to avoid this weight gain?
What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy. It is produced by beta cells in the pancreas. This hormone works to transport blood sugar (glucose) into the cells.
The pancreas is an organ located between the stomach and the spine, and it secretes insulin into the bloodstream following a person eats food, in response to the rise in sugar in the bloodstream.
How does insulin work?
Insulin works by binding to special receptors on the cell surfacewhich leads to its transmission across the surface of the cell into the cell.
Glucose is the energy that turns into the food that a person eats, and it is excreted in the blood, so the cells of the body take it and burn it to give them the energy needed for their vital operations. To do this, they need the hormone insulin, which makes glucose move from the bloodstream into the cells.
The higher the level of glucose in the blood, the more insulin the pancreas produces to lower it. If the glucose level drops, the pancreas reduces or stops insulin secretion.
Insulin helps manage body sugar by helping cells absorb glucose, without which body cells would not be able to use sugar for energy.
Insulin therapy is necessary for everyone with type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 diabetes.
Does insulin cause weight gain?
People who take insulin often gain weight, and this is a side effect of taking the hormone. Being overweight can be frustrating because maintaining a healthy weight is important for managing diabetes, according to Dr For Mayo Clinic.
Uncontrolled diabetes can make you hungrier, and this may result in you eating an increased amount of food even when you start insulin therapy. With insulin therapy, you begin to control your blood sugar, glucose is absorbed and stored in your body, and this leads to weight gain if the amount you eat is more than you need per day.
On the other hand, it is possible to maintain weight and avoid gaining it while taking insulin, by following certain instructions.
How can weight be maintained and prevented from gaining while using insulin?
Firstly. Talk to your doctor regarding your treatment plan
You should never reduce your insulin dose or stop taking insulin on your own, as this can cause your blood sugar to rise and increase your risk of complications.
And if you are overweight, talk to your doctor regarding adjusting your treatment strategy. Your doctor may recommend other medications. There are diabetes medications that help with weight loss, such as metformin.
secondly. Work to keep blood sugar levels steady and within the normal range
Large fluctuations in blood sugar can lead to weight gain, so the best approach is to try to keep it stable.
Third. Calorie counting
Eating more calories than a person burns leads to weight gain, and the number of calories you need each day depends on several factors such as your weight, age, activity level, and any other health conditions you may have.
Consult your doctor or dietician regarding what is right for you, as eating fewer calories may be all that is required of you to maintain a healthy weight.
Fourthly. Exercising regularly
Exercise helps burn extra calories, and exercises reduce insulin resistance and speed up the uptake of glucose into the muscles.
Regular strength training, such as lifting weights or doing push-ups, builds muscle and keeps more calories burning in the muscles.
Fifth. Eat regularly and do not skip meals
Skipping meals may make you feel extra hungry and lead to overeating later. Skipping meals can also lead to low blood sugar if you do not adjust your insulin dose.
What are the symptoms of excess insulin?
We move on to another case, which is the increase in insulin, which occurs when too much of the hormone is taken, which leads to low blood sugar.
Low blood sugar – also known as: low blood glucose, hypoglycaemia, hypoglycemia – is a condition that occurs when the level of glucose in the blood falls below a healthy level, according toThe National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in the United States (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).
For many people with diabetes, this means a blood glucose reading of less than 70 milligrams per deciliter. Your reading may be different, so check with your doctor or health care team for a low blood glucose level for you.
A symptom of low blood sugar, according to For WebMed:
- confusion.
- Very hungry.
- exhaustion.
- irritation.
- sweating
- Hands trembling.
- If blood sugar levels continue to drop, the person may have a seizure or lose consciousness.
What do you do if you take an insulin overdose?
Most insulin overdoses can be treated at home, according to a report in WebMed. Follow these steps if you are able (i.e. conscious):
- Check your blood sugar.
- Drink half a cup of regular soda (ie soda sweetened with sugar, not diet) or sweetened fruit juice, or have hard candy.
- If you skip a meal, eat something, and your blood sugar can spike by eating something with 15 to 20 grams of carbohydrates.
- Take a break.
- Recheck your blood sugar following 15 or 20 minutes. If it is still low, take another 15 to 20 grams of sugar.
- Pay attention to how you feel over the next few hours. If symptoms persist, check your sugar once more an hour following eating. And continue to eat snacks if sugar is low.
- Get medical help if your sugar level remains low following 2 hours or if your symptoms do not improve.
- If the person loses consciousness, those around him should call 911 immediately.
How do you prevent insulin overdose?
There are things a diabetic can do to prevent an insulin overdose
- Stick to the insulin doses prescribed by your doctor.
- Eat something at every meal, even if you are not hungry. Have some bread, a glass of milk, or a small portion of fruit. And never miss meals when taking insulin.
- Anticipate that you will develop an insulin complication at some point, and keep candy in your bag and in the car to use if your blood sugar drops.