What is the relationship between obesity and your patients’ type 2 diabetes?
Learn about the connection between this common comorbidity for your patients with obesity and how it can affect their health.
Obesity can increase the risk of prediabetes, which can lead to type 2 diabetes1
In patients with obesity and prediabetes,
10%
WEIGHT LOSS
reduces the risk of developing diabetes2,3
Of the 84 million American adults who have prediabetes, nearly 90% are unaware of their condition.4
In patients with type 2 diabetes, a higher BMI is associated with higher A1c levels.5
What is a potential mechanism linking obesity to diabetes?
Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and decreased β-cell function, which can lead to the development of diabetes.6
Evidence suggests that genetic risk factors may be necessary for the occurrence of β-cell dysfunction.7
BRING OBESITY TO THE FOREFRONT
WITH YOUR PATIENTS WITH PREDIABETES
Weight loss may prevent or delay progression to type 2 diabetes, with an average weight loss of 6.7% being shown to reduce the onset of diabetes by 58%.2
The American Diabetes Prevention Program (ADPP) was a trial of adults at high risk for development of type 2 diabetes (N=3,234) who were randomized to receive intensive lifestyle intervention, pharmacotherapy, or placebo.
A1c, glycated hemoglobin; BMI, body mass index.
DISEASE PROGRESSION
Obesity is caused by a range of factors8,9
INITIATING A PLAN
Patients may be waiting for health care professionals to discuss weight management
References:
1. Miao Z, Alvarez M, Ko A, et al. The causal effect of obesity on prediabetes and insulin resistance reveals the important role of adipose tissue in insulin resistance. PLoS Genet. 2020;16(9):e1009018.
2. Ryan DH, Yockey SR. Weight loss and improvement in comorbidity: differences at 5%, 10%, 15% and over. Curr Obes Rep. 2017;6(2):187-194.
3. Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, et al; Reviewers of the AACE/ACE Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr Pract. 2016;22(suppl 3):1-203.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About the prediabetes risk test. Updated April 13, 2021. Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/prediabetes/risktest/about-the-test.html
5. Boye KS, Lage MJ, Shinde S, Thieu V, Bae JP. Trends in HbA1c and body mass index among individuals with type 2 diabetes: evidence from a US database 2012–2019. Diabetes Ther. 2021;12(7):2077-2087.
6. Wondmkun YT. Obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes: associations and therapeutic implications. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:3611-3616.
7. Al-Goblan AS, Al-Alfi MA, Khan MZ. Mechanism linking diabetes mellitus and obesity. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2014;7:587-591.
8. Lee A, Cardel M, Donahoo WT. Social and environmental factors influencing obesity. Updated October 12, 2019. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt BB, Blackman MR, et al eds. Endotext. [Internet]. South Dartmouth, MA: MDText.com; 2000. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278977/
9. Thaker VV. Genetic and epigenetic causes of obesity. Adolesc Med State Art Rev. 2017;28(2):379-405.
