We all know that being overweight affects Type 2 diabetes, and that diabetics are often overweight. In fact, being overweight is the single biggest risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. But how much does your BMI, or body mass index, affect your disease?
Your BMI is the measurement of excess fat in your body, based on your height and weight. While it is impossible to have a BMI of 0, you wouldn't want that anyway. The body does need a small amount of fat to balance out its functions. It's when our BMI is too high,over 25, that problems start to occur.
Carrying extra weight is the same as ringing the dinner bell for a plethora of health conditions. But Type 2 diabetes also carries a host of various complications, too. The problem is that many complications on both lists are the same. Heart disease and stroke lead the way as two of the most severe and tops both lists. So having them as possible developments are bad enough, but doubling your chances is playing with fire.
But it isn't just the excess weight; it's where the weight is located. We all carry unwanted pounds in different places, but having it around the middle, belly-fat, is the worst-case scenario. In fact, belly fat is often considered a pre-cursor to Type 2 diabetes because of the harm it inflicts on your blood sugar levels.
Why is belly fat or visceral fat so dangerous, why is it so toxic? It all comes down to the fact visceral fat or belly fat cells manufacture chemicals that prevent other cells from responding to insulin as they should. They also trigger inflammation which is one of the body's ways of responding to injury. That may be a good thing if you cut your finger but the chemicals sent out by visceral fat causes inflammation that is capable of targeting your blood vessels, triggering heart disease, and even other disease such as certain forms of cancer.
So how high is too high? For adults, it is considered a BMI between 18.5 and 25 is healthy. The experts agree anything over 25 poses a problem for your body, and for Type 2 diabetes. In fact, it causes complications that can accelerate the formation of disease in the body, The higher the BMI, the greater the risk. So you can see why losing some weight is a good idea, not just for managing Type 2 diabetes but for staving off other illnesses as well.
As you get older and it becomes harder to maintain that athletic figure from your younger days; excess weight plays a more important role. Those extra pounds that were only an annoyance at a younger age could now be dangerous. That's why exercise and maintaining a healthy weight is not only good for your heart, but your blood sugar, as well.
To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to see how to Beat The Belly Fat Blues Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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