Slim people can develop prediabetes too, nutritionist explains the risks

Many people believe that diabetes risk rises only with excess weight or obesity. But that idea is not entirely correct. Slim people can also develop prediabetes, because blood sugar levels do not depend on body weight alone. Heredity, the pattern of fat accumulation in the body, and lifestyle habits also play an important role.

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but have not yet reached the stage at which diabetes is diagnosed. In this state, the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin. This is called insulin resistance.

Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose in the blood enter the body's cells. When insulin does not work properly, blood sugar levels can rise.

Fat accumulating in the abdomen: even when body weight is normal, excess fat can build up around the belly. Fat stored around the organs inside the abdomen is called visceral fat. This fat can interfere with how insulin works, so even slim people can develop insulin resistance.

Body mass index (BMI) shows the ratio of height to weight. But how much fat the body carries, or where it is stored, cannot be determined from BMI alone. So even when weight looks normal, risk may be hidden inside the body.

Heredity: if parents or siblings have type 2 diabetes, one's own risk of the disease can also increase. Genetic traits can affect the body's ability to use insulin and the pancreas's release of insulin. So the risk of diabetes can exist even when weight is normal.

Lack of physical activity: sitting for long periods and not exercising regularly can make the body's cells less sensitive to insulin, raising the chance that blood sugar levels will climb.

High blood pressure and abnormal blood fat levels: high blood pressure and abnormal levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood are linked to metabolic problems. When these problems are present, the risk of prediabetes can also rise.

Prediabetes usually has no clear symptoms. As a result, many people do not realise that their blood sugar is higher than normal. Even when someone looks healthy from the outside, insulin resistance may be present inside the body.

Several tests are used to detect prediabetes. In the fasting blood sugar test, glucose levels are measured after not eating for a set period overnight. The HbA1c test gives an idea of average blood sugar over two to three months. In the oral glucose tolerance test, blood sugar is measured after drinking a set amount of glucose, which shows how well the body can control glucose.

To reduce the risk of prediabetes, build a habit of regular walking and other physical activity. Along with moderate amounts of rice or bread, keep vegetables, lentils, eggs, fish and other nutritious foods in the diet. Cut down on sweet drinks and excess sugar. Instead of sitting continuously for a long time, get up and walk around from time to time.

A healthy lifestyle is essential even when body weight is normal. But remember, prediabetes risk cannot be judged by weight alone. So if anyone in the family has type 2 diabetes, if excess fat has built up around the belly, if physical activity is low, or if there are problems with high blood pressure and blood fat, blood sugar should be tested on a doctor's advice. Written by Lina Akter, nutritionist, Rayan Health Care Hospital and Research Centre, Dinajpur.