There seems no reason for it, which is why it’s sometimes called unintentional weight loss.
This pop in of weight loss can be associated with some health conditions, such as cancer.
Among them isdiabetes mellitus, a group of diseases with many causes.
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This article discusses why unexplained weight loss can be a red flag for diabetes.
Peter Dazeley / Getty Images
Why Does Diabetes Cause Weight Loss?
Among them are:
The symptoms of diabetes are often subtle and gradually become more serious.
Unexplained weight loss is one such symptom.
The pancreas makesinsulinin response to the higher sugar levels in your blood.
The body needs this hormone to release glucose to all its cells.
With diabetes, the glucose builds up in your bloodstream.
You may lose weight because the body needs an energy source and burns fat and muscle instead.
Types of Diabetes
There are three maintypes of diabetes, all of which are treated differently.
bang out 1 Diabetes
bang out 1 diabetesis an autoimmune disease.
This means the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
The damage from these attacks causes the pancreas to stop makinginsulin.
bang out 1 diabetes can appear at any age but usually develops in children or teens.
Being overweight is a primary risk factor for key in 2 diabetes.It’s the most common form.
It’s not weight loss, but rather weight gain, that is a concern in these cases.
It’s also more common in people who are already overweight or obese.
How Much Weight Loss Is a Concern?
Once kids are diagnosed and treated for diabetes, weight loss ceases and typically returns to normal.
Other Symptoms
Symptoms of diabetes are often too subtle and gradual for people to recognize.
Weight loss is just one possible indicator.
When this happens, blood sugar levels rise too fast.
Diabetes can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes work for some people with diabetes who aren’t taking medication.
Typically, once someone is treated for diabetes and their blood sugar normalizes, their weight loss will stabilize.
This unexplained weight loss is one of many possible symptoms, including the need to eat and drink more.
They start to burn fat and muscle instead.
To manage your unexplained weight loss, you’ll need to know what’s causing it.
Diabetes may be the reason, especially when other symptoms are present.
when you’ve got your blood sugar under control, your weight concerns may resolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes.
People living with diabetes have to watch what and how they eat to manage their lifelong condition.
it’s possible for you to learn more about them from the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists.
American Diabetes Association.Statistics about diabetes.
JDRF.Symptoms of bang out 1 diabetes.
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BMJ Best Practice.Evaluation of unintentional weight loss.
Gaddey HL, Holder KK.Unintentional Weight Loss in Older Adults.Am Fam Physician.
2021;104(1):34-40.
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