Why one size doesn't fit all—type 2 diabetes can operate differently across weight profiles
Research published in Diabetologia by Amsterdam UMC and the University of Ghana reveals that type 2 diabetes manifests in two fundamentally different ways depending on a patient's body mass index (BMI). While type 2 diabetes in patients with a higher BMI is primarily driven by insulin resistance, the study demonstrates that in individuals within a lower BMI range, the condition is caused by the…
Type 2 diabetes manifests differently depending on a patient's body mass index (BMI). In those with higher BMI, the condition is primarily driven by insulin resistance, while in individuals with lower BMI, the issue stems from the pancreas not producing enough insulin. However, both groups are currently treated with the same medications, which are mainly effective against insulin resistance, not a shortage of insulin.
As a result, millions of lean patients, particularly in Africa, may not be receiving the appropriate care. The researchers analyzed data from over 3,300 African adults with type 2 diabetes and found that lean patients were more susceptible to eye damage (retinopathy) and strokes, while overweight patients were more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
This suggests that type 2 diabetes in lean Africans is a distinct disease process that requires different treatment approaches.
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