Why can’t these people just lose some weight? Sen. Tom Colburn said diabetes was 50% preventable. An ounce of prevention... BTW diabetes runs in my family. 2-3 had type 1. Those folks are real screwed.
Doesn’t insulin resistance make it difficult for people to lose weight?
That's what I've always thought. After knowing diabetics in my family and friends, it seems obvious that diabetes is a type of addiction in some people.
Many diabetics crave sugar and will binge on it. I've seen diabetics binge and then give themselves a couple of injections of insulin to compensate, like that was going to fix everything.
Also, when you've been close to diabetics, it's easy to notice when they've been "good" and when they've been off their feed. The mood swings and personality changes will tip you off.
It reminds me of alcoholism, and I bet someday they will show a tie. You can plead with some diabetics, show them the facts, everything. You will get denial, and indignation: "it's my life and I can do what I want", "So what if it kills me, we've all got to die", etc. etc.
I mention all this not to impugn diabetics but to share my thoughts that it is a mystery in many of the same ways as alcoholism, and maybe just as tough a fight to beat it.