People generally believe that they are underweight and of normal stature so they are not at risk of diabetes, this is largely due to the increase in type 2 diabetes, which is directly related to body weight. As we gain weight, our risk of developing type 2 diabetes also increases.
However, diabetes is not always related to the way you look. If you are lean but have insulin resistance, your blood sugar may rise. Dr Ambareesh Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology & Diabetes, Max Healthcare, told The Indian Express that some people may feel that if their BMI (Body Mass Index) is less than 25, they are healthy. But this is also not correct. If underweight body has a high fat ratio and less muscle mass, then they can also become victims of type 2 diabetes.
An important problem is physical inactivity. Many people spend all day in front of a computer or television and do only minimal physical work. Because of this, they have a natural tendency to shrink muscle tissue in the aging process (Sarcopenia). Such people also have insulin resistance. These people are prone to metabolic side effects like or even more than those who are obese and overweight.
Sometimes, the muscles weigh more around the waist. Therefore, finding the right waist-to-hip ratio is essential and important. People with visceral fat and high cholesterol also have this type. This risk increases sharply if there is a family history of diabetes.
Such patients are usually given oral anti-diabetic drugs initially, but may require insulin earlier in the course of the disease than normal-weight obese people with type-2 diabetes. These adults may also have other types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, which is characterized by severe insulin deficiency, traditionally occurs in children.
This type of diabetes, also called insulin-dependent diabetes, requires insulin for treatment from the time it is detected. This is due to an autoimmune reaction within their body where they develop antibodies against their pancreatic cells.