Can Thin People Have High Glucose

Welcome to Lisanne Wellness Center Education Series, today we are talking about Can Thin People Have High Glucose/Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and PCOS?

Few things are more aggravating in the doctor’s office than feeling as though every health concern you have is being blamed on your weight, especially if you have a few more pounds on your frame. Are you constantly tired? Lose weight. Is your blood sugar out of control? Simply lose a few pounds. You’re suffering from debilitating pain? Of course, it’s all because of your weight.

The difficulty with this mindset is that many overweight people may not receive the proper medical attention, while people with a smaller frame may have their own medical needs overlooked. This is especially true when a condition, such as insulin resistance, is generally associated with individuals who are heavier. It is critical to distinguish between weight as a contributing factor and weight as the actual cause.

While insulin resistance and PCOS are more common in overweight people, they can also affect those who are underweight or normal weight.

How Does Weight Contribute to Insulin Resistance and PCOS?

One of the many risk factors for insulin resistance and PCOS is weight. Many individuals feel that because medical professionals and online resources focus on this risk factor, you must be overweight to be at risk for certain disorders.

Because other risk factors often contribute to obesity, weight is frequently tied to insulin resistance and PCOS. You are more likely to be obese if you lead a sedentary lifestyle with minimal exercise than if you lead an active lifestyle. The same may be said for eating a poor diet or not getting enough sleep.

In reality, while being overweight or obese increases your risk of these conditions greatly, it is far from the main cause. If you have a genetic predisposition to Type II diabetes or if your lifestyle puts you at risk, you may develop it. You may also have a history of or be suffering from medical conditions that increase your risk of getting diagnosed with these conditions.

Where You Carry Your Weight Matters

Another thing to keep in mind is that where you carry your weight is more important than the numbers on the scale. Those who are predisposed to insulin resistance and PCOS tend to hold their weight in their abdomen and have an apple-shaped figure. This is known as central or truncal obesity, while it is sometimes referred to as visceral fat.

This body types does not require you to be overweight either. This risk factor applies if you find that you are quite thin in other areas of your body but have a substantial tummy pooch. 

The following are common causes of truncal or central obesity:

• Eating over-processed foods high in fats
• Genetic predisposition
• Hypercortisolism
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Excessive alcohol (beer gut)
• Stress and poor sleep habits

Because the causes of central obesity coincide with the risk factors for insulin resistance and PCOS, the risk is heightened.

Common Myths About Weight and Insulin Related Conditions

The most common misconception concerning insulin-related conditions are that they are caused by weight. This had led to popular myths about various risks and causes. It is critical to understand the underlying causes of these disorders in order to effectively decrease your risk factors. Your capacity to do this is hampered by your perception that it is merely weight.

What counts much more than your weigh is the way you live your life. If you eat well, get exercise regularly, and avoid alcohol and tobacco, you are less likely to develop an insulin-related condition than someone who is overweight as a result of poor lifestyle choices.

Below are several myths associated with insulin-related conditions and weight. 

MYTH: You Have to be Overweight to Have Diabetes or Insulin Resistance

Roughly 10-15% of individuals suffering from insulin resistance are thin. With these numbers, it is difficult to dispute that weight does play a role in your risk level; nevertheless, this does not imply that only overweight people may be diagnosed with insulin resistance or PCOS. 

If you’re at healthy weight or underweight, you should pay close attention to other risk factors such as genetics and lifestyle choices. Being thin isn’t as important if you have a lot of other risk factors.
If you have several of the risk factors for insulin resistance, you may want to think about supplementing to help minimize those. This may include Lowsitol to help you eliminate your risk factors. You might also consider other supplements meant to help neutralize them altogether.

MYTH: If I am Overweight, I Will Develop Diabetes

There is a distinction to be made between a risk factor increasing your chances of being diagnosed with a certain disease and a guarantee. Your risk increases if you are overweight, although only about 30% of people who are overweight actually develop Type II diabetes. This figure is higher for insulin resistance or pre-diabetes.

Even if you are overweight, living a healthy lifestyle reduces your risk of developing insulin resistance and PCOS. Some people are simply prone to carry extra weight, whether this is hereditary or due to a slow metabolism. A healthy lifestyle will reduce your risk of developing diabetes or insulin resistance.

MYTH: Obesity is the Only Cause of Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

Obesity is regarded as the most prevalent risk factor for insulin-related disorders since it overlaps with many of the other risks. These risk factors include:

• Eating a nutrient-poor diet that is high in sugar, carbs, and processed foods
• Poor sleeping habits. This might be due to a lack of sleep, excess sleep, or irregular sleeping patterns.
• Chronic stress. Prolonged stress leads to elevated cortisol levels and over an extended period of time, increases the risk of insulin resistance.
• Sedentary lifestyle. Not engaging in regular exercise or never exercising.
• Engaging in unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, or using illegal drugs.
• Genetic predisposition
• Medical conditions such as thyroid imbalances or hormonal deficiencies.

Thin people may have many risk factors for insulin resistance or PCOS. Some people maintain their weight even though their lifestyle choices would normally result in weight gain. This might be due to a variety of reasons, including as extremely high metabolism or the effect of medicines, drugs, or substances used by the individual. 

MYTH: Maintaining a Healthy Weight Will get rid of PCOS

Being in a healthy weight range or “thin” is quite beneficial in managing the symptoms of PCOS. That said, PCOS is a lifelong condition that can only be treated by a complete hysterectomy or the removal of ovaries. 

While PCOS cannot be cured, it can be managed, which is where weight management comes in. Women who maintain a healthy weight are  more likely to lessen or perhaps alleviate some of the symptoms associated with PCOS. If you are overweight, losing just 5% of your body weight can help reduce symptoms.

Some of the symptoms that can be eased with weight management are:

• Insulin resistance
• Hormonal imbalances
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Fertility struggles

It is also critical to understand that PCOS might make losing weight more challenging. It’s important to persevere rather than give up. You may simply need to approach the situation differently. As a result, it is strongly advised that you seek professional advice, such as a nutrition consultation, if you are experiencing difficulties. A metabolic cleanse may also make it easier to lose weight.

Real Risk Factors for Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and PCOS

While weight is one of the risk factors for these conditions, there are many more that can help you determine whether you are at high risk of developing them. Other risk factors include:

• Living a sedentary lifestyle

• Engaging in unhealthy habits (smoking or drinking)

• Poor sleep schedule

• Nutrient-poor diet that is high in processed foods
  
• Not exercising enough

• A history of these conditions in your family (genetic predisposition)

• Hormonal imbalances

• Chronic stress
  
• History of medical conditions such as gestational diabetes or sleep apnea

In truth, several of these risk factors often contribute to obesity, which is why a larger percentage of people with insulin resistance or PCOS are overweight. Weight gain is likely if you do not exercise, get little sleep, and eat poorly.

Final Thoughts

Weight is a major concern in insulin-related conditions, but it is not the only one. Being thin also does not protect you against developing them either. Believing differently could mean ignoring key risk factors until it is too late.

What is significantly more important are your lifestyle choices. Whatever you put into your body, your exercise and sleep routines, and your personal genetics can all drastically change the outcome to be for or against you. What will genuinely make a difference is maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Sources

• Insulin Resistance
• Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes: Association with Truncal Obesity, Impaired Fitness, and Atypical Malonyl Coenzyme A Regulation
• Causes of belly fat
• Obesity? Diabetes? We’ve been set up
• Yes, thin people can get Type 2 diabetes
• What to Know About Insulin Resistance
• How Weight Loss Can Improve PCOS
• Treatment – Polycystic ovary syndrome