What is Diabesity?

There is no such disease as diabesity, and yet it is one of the most common problems encountered in older patients. Diabesity is the combination of diabetes and obesity. Unfortunately these two health issues often go hand in hand.

The reality is if you are overweight you are much more likely to have elevated blood sugar (diabetes). If you have diabetes you are extremely likely to be overweight. Of course there is an exception to every rule. But this condition is called diabesity and is completely avoidable.

The terminology of diabetes can be considered by many as being confusing and understandably so. Older people most commonly have the mildest form of diabetes called adult-onset diabetes, Type II diabetes, noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or NIDDM. This is a very different situation than the juvenile or Type I diabetes that starts early in life and can often have very serious complications. The juvenile diabetic can have the risk of going into a diabetic coma and almost always requires insulin. Someone diagnosed much later in life very rarely requires medication.

At one time it was thought that all people with diabetes should be taking medication to control their blood sugar levels. But over time and with numerous studies, it was shown that people with milder forms of diabetes did not benefit overall from medication.

Now it is widely recognized that the best way to lower blood sugar levels and sometimes complete remove all signs of the disease is through weight loss and exercise. This has been proven to be the case in the majority of diabetic obese older individuals who are successful in reducing their body weight to "normal" levels and develop a regular exercise pattern. This leads to the question; Is a condition that is cured with diet and exercise a disease or just a bad habit?

Not everyone with diabesity will improve with just diet and exercise. Some need to pay special attention to their diet. The overall principal of the diet would be to avoid getting to many carbohydrates at one time and to spread your calorie intake out over the day so you don't get too many calories at one time. Some people still may require medication.

The elderly need to be their own health care advocate and accept that diabesity is a sign of aging in the body. Anyone who suffers from this condition should take it as a serious indicator that they need to be taking better care of themselves.