Why do some fat people not get diabetes

I think the question you should be asking is why do some fat people get diabetes as the vast majority, around 80% in fact will never get diabetes,

80% of T2 diabetics are overweight at diagnosis but only 20% of obese people develop diabetes. I'm afraid there is no answer as to why you are diabetic just as there is no reason why the vast majority of diabetics find they have it either. I'm afraid there are more questions than answers at present.

i often asked that question myself when I came across people who were bigger than me etc.... It seems a bit unfair i suppose but well its here and its staying so we need to deal with it.

Oh and i was 27 when I was diagnosed as T2

claymic said:

i often asked that question myself when I came across people who were bigger than me etc.... It seems a bit unfair i suppose but well its here and its staying so we need to deal with it.

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I'd make a couple of points here..

Firstly the age at which you're diagnosed can bear so little relation to when you officially became diabetic as to be meaningless. I was diagnosed at 39 but I suspect I was type 2 before I was 30.

secondly it is not 'unfair' that people fatter than you don't have diabetes. It's not a fat persons condition and to suggest it is misrepresents diabetes for those of us who are type 2. Your comment also suggests that it would be fairer for others to have the condition as well as us.

I am a type 2 diabetic - it's unfortunate, but not unfair.

They have bigger pancreas.
At your age you could be MODY. That's genetic, not weight related. A lot of MODY types are mistaken for type 2s if they are overweight or obese. They respond to different drugs. So it is worth asking your doctor if it is possible.

Simple answer is genetics - whether or not a person gets type 2 diabetes depends on a combination of the genes they are born with and interaction with the environment / behaviour eg whether or not they become overweight.

So, with some genes, people will get type 2 diabetes even if they never become overweight, and some people will be come overweight, but never get type 2 diabetes. It's about reducing / increasing risks, not guarantees.

But, not becoming overweight has other benefits eg reducing risks of heart disease, reducing stress on joints etc.

I think some people are just genetically pre-disposed to get Type 2. If like me, they let themselves get overweight to a certain level (no doubt different for each individual) then the diabetes kicks in. I know if I hadn't let my weight creep up, I'd not have developed diabetes and the only way to solve the problem for me was to lose weight and get fit.

i was 33 when diagnosed with t2, i am a size 14-16. my uncle & grandad also have t2, so it is in the family. but i know what you mean. my partner is very over weight, and i do at times resent him, as he still eats what he wants.

This link, dated June 2010 shows that 38 genetic variations associated with Type 2 Diabetes have now been found.

If you read the conclusion of the study you will see that there may be more.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/06June/Page ... found.aspx

The original post could be turned on it's head and the question could be, "Why do thin people get Type 2 Diabetes?" 20% of diagnosis is confirmed in people who are not overweight.

We all produce so much insulin and when it's gone, it's gone. Makes no difference what size or shape you are. My specialist diabetic nurse plus GP diabetic nurse have both told me this and it's something I think is true.

I think we just have to accept the fact that we are diabetic and try to live with it, there are two diabetics in the house and I never wonder why both of us. It's happened and we have to live with it - plus the hassles of two different Types of insulin and all the ukky stuff that goes with it. :lol:

Packing a meds bag to go away is complex too, as there's so much to remember, but we manage and cope. I think that's half the battle

SueR said:

We all produce so much insulin and when it's gone, it's gone. Makes no difference what size or shape you are. My specialist diabetic nurse plus GP diabetic nurse have both told me this and it's something I think is true.

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Sorry Sue but I would strongly question that statement, how is it then that some people live to be over 100 and have not 'run out of insulin' when others become diabetic in childhood are you saying they have used up all their insulin?

Sounds a very bizarre thing for a health professional to say, more akin to an internet warrior pushing their pet theory.

Sorry, but it's what we have both been told by two different health professionals, two real people who we have regular contact with and whom we trust.

It helps me accept the fact that I am diabetic and it's not my fault. I get on with my life without worrying about why me. I have to, because with two of us in the same situation I'd go mental trying to figure out the whys and wherefore's.

Life is for me is for living and not worrying about housework or why we are both diabetic ! :lol:

Not everyone that is overweight is insulin resistant.

It could be that us "obese T2 Diabetics", are overweight because we have insulin resistance (ie it isn't our fault), wheras there are some obese people, who aren't insulin resistant, who are overweight because they really do eat too much...

Now wouldn't that be morally convenient?

Well said Sue! I don't understand why anyone would blame themselves for being diabetic, that's sad.

Well I do rather blame myself for becoming diabetic because in my case the simple truth is that I became diabetic because I let myself become horribly overweight. If I'd taken better care of myself I wouldn't have developed undiagnosed diabetes and had a stroke. Every diabetic has their own situation and one thing I've learned is that no two diabetics are the same, but that's the situation for me.

I have been overweight all of my life and I still will not blame myself.

We are all different and react differently to things. I am on insulin because there are a lot of diabetic drugs that my body will not tolerate. Is that my fault too ? I'm lucky I have a very understanding GP and yes I have had complications too, as a result of not being diagnosed sooner - was registered with a different GP then. No way is this my fault and do I blame anyone errr no.

I get on with my life and enjoy it to the full, it's too short for 'what ifs' and recriminations...

SueR said:

We all produce so much insulin and when it's gone, it's gone. Makes no difference what size or shape you are. My specialist diabetic nurse plus GP diabetic nurse have both told me this and it's something I think is true.

I think we just have to accept the fact that we are diabetic and try to live with it, there are two diabetics in the house and I never wonder why both of us. It's happened and we have to live with it - plus the hassles of two different Types of insulin and all the ukky stuff that goes with it. :lol:

Packing a meds bag to go away is complex too, as there's so much to remember, but we manage and cope. I think that's half the battle

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Wow. I'm seriously glad I am not under the care of your two HCP's Sue..I think their opinion is absolute nonsense but if you want to believe it fine. I would love to hear why my daughter was diagnosed with type 2 at 18 years...must have been her insulin going.

You are right about life being for living, I totally agree with you. But the relevance for me is that I feel every individual should take some responsibility for their own health and wellbeing and not just expect the pills/insulin to do all the work. I have noticed before a offhand attitude on this forum to those who make dietary changes etc, making out they are some sort of health nuts.
In my humble opinion it is more nutty to know that being overweight will contribute to health problems as well as contribute to diabetes problems and decide that there is nothing to be done about it. Life's too short...you're not wrong. It is too short for complications of diabetes.

Having three diabetics in the family, one on insulin because the poor kid has no choice and who I dearly wish could come off it, I feel that life is too short to stick ones head in the sand and say that it is all going to be ok. Because the chances are it isn't, especially if we don't do something about it ourselves.

I am very obese and I struggle with food issues. Is it harder than just eating what I want and taking a shed load of meds and/or insulin because I don't want to change my eating habits?

No contest. My body, my responsibility.

Simples.

Life is for me is for living and not worrying about housework or why we are both diabetic !

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Life is for living and for me it is trying to live a life that avoids the complications of diabetes. I don't worry about housework and I don't spend time wondering why I am a diabetic. I do however spend at least 1.5 hours a day exercising and I love it - walking and exercising on the Wii. I want to live as long as I possibly can and be as healthy as I can. For me part of taking control of the situation was accepting my part in developing diabetes - letting myself get so overweight. From there it was taking steps to bring everything back under my control as I really didn't want medication if I could avoid it.

OK, so in ladybird64's opinion I have rubbish HCP's and it's my fault I am diabetic..

Sorry I will not go with that.

I have a brilliant GP and a GP diabetic nurse. When I mentioned visual loss and migraines to the GP I was sent to the eye department and when they couldn't find anything, I was sent to neurology. Something was picked up on and I have remained under their care since. If my GP was rubbish then he would have not pursued things after the eye tests came back negative - as he expected they would. The nurse is also very good and picks up on minute changes in blood tests - think one part of something was raised a tiny amount and she sent me for another blood test a few weeks later. The second test was fine and I am back to 3monthly checks now.

Funny the previous GP failed to pick up on the classical symptoms of diabetes - thrush - and the diabetic nurse insisted on 3 blood tests over 3 weeks before she would finally agree to the fact that I was diabetic. I quickly changed GP's and within a week of changing was put on metformin and my care improved 100%.

I think I know the difference between good and bad HCP's by now.

Everyone has an opinion on diabetes, even non diabetics and everyone thinks they are right. It simply doesn't matter what I say it will be challenged. I refuse to defend myself and my opinions any further.

Hi Sue,
You do not have to defend your opinions, they are as valid as every other posters.

Emotional subjects here include the good and bad care of our Health Care Professionals involved in your care and bad experiences, that some posters have, cloud some people's judgement and they find it hard to believe that others are happy with their care.

Diet is another one. People know what works for them but they do not know what works for others. We can only manage our own diabetes regardless of how we manage it. Some will say, "try this, try that". Others will say "You have to do this and you have to do that".

Opinions are like backsides, we all have one.

Don't take it to heart Sue, it happens all the time.