Diabetes And Weight Gain
While most Americans are concerned about losing excess pounds, your problem may be how to gain weight fast. Although you are in the minority among adults in this country, you may be surprised to find out that there are many fellow diabetics who share your problem.
Most often these extra-thin persons have Type I, insulin-dependent diabetes. Gaining extra pounds has never proved to be much of a problem for many people. All that most people have to do is watch the pounds piles on as they continue to eat too much and exercise too little. For you, however, gaining weight it much more of a problem since you also have to maintain good control of your blood glucose levels at the same time.
Just piling on extra food or running a few miles less could spell disaster for your efforts to maintain your diabetes control. You may ask this question:
Why should I bother to try to put extra pounds on my body?
One of the best reasons to get to your desirable weight is so that you will become more physically fit and have additional energy, strength and endurance. When you are significantly underweight your energy, strength and endurance levels are well below normal. You may also feel better about yourself when you are able to attain and then maintain your desirable weight. You may feel that you look more attractive and find that you clothes fit more comfortably.
How Did You Get So Thin?
One possible cause of your thinness is genetics. You may have inherited an extremely thin body type, making it as difficult for you to gain weight as it is for the naturally fat person to lose weight. It can be done, but it will take extra effort to overcome your genes and add needed pounds. Another possible reason for your thinness may be poor blood glucose control. When your blood glucose levels are well above normal, you spill glucose (and calories) into your urine. When this occurs, your body doesn't get a chance to use this glucose as fuel to build tissues (and weight). Eating more food when control is poor just drives your blood glucose (and urine sugar) levels higher, and does not add needed pounds. A third person why you are thin may be based on your lifestyle habits. Your thinness may be a result of an athletic activity, such as marathon running. You may also be thin because you eat very little or exercise a great deal--or both. What Is Your Desirable Body Weight?
If your weight is too low because your diabetes control is poor, you should be able to achieve your desirable body weight when you improve your blood glucose control. You may also need to make some adjustments in food intake and medication. If you are just naturally thin and in good control, then adding weight may be more difficult. You may need to be content with a smaller weight gain--adding only the amount of weight to solve any problems you are having with strength, endurance and/or energy levels.
| 