Glucose is a sugar and the primary source of energy for your cells and tissues. Increasing your blood glucose levels can lead to weight gain. Research by scientists at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense and published in "Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology" in August 2005 reports that high levels of glucose induce fat production in the pancreas and high levels of fat in the blood. Consult your doctor about increased blood sugar and weight gain.
Sugar Metabolism
You get glucose from two sources and regulate blood glucose levels with two hormones made in your pancreas. Carbohydrates in food, such as starch and fruits, break down into sugar which your body converts into glucose. Your liver and muscles also store sugar in a large molecule called glycogen for future use. Insulin is a hormone that transports glucose from the blood into your cells. Glucagon is a hormone that releases glucose from glycogen when your blood glucose levels are low.
Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes and insulin resistance are associated with increased blood sugar and overweight or obesity. More than 90 percent of all diabetics are Type 2 diabetics who produce insulin, but their cells become resistant to insulin, increasing the amount of glucose in the blood. People who have pre-diabetes have high blood sugar, but not quite high enough to be considered diabetic, while people with insulin resistance have high blood sugar levels and are often overweight or obese. Insulin resistance is a predictor of weight gain in postmenopausal women, according to research by scientists at MedStar Research Institute in Washington, D.C., and published in the "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders" in August 2004.
Glycemic Index
The glycemic index of a food can influence blood sugar levels and potential for weight gain. The glycemic index is a measurement of how quickly sugar from food is absorbed into your blood. The higher the glycemic index of the food, the faster its sugar enters your blood. High glycemic index foods can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar. When blood sugar stays high, you increase your risk for insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular complications and weight gain. Refined carbohydrates and processed foods generally have a high glycemic index and increase your risk of weight gain, while whole foods, such as whole grains, generally have a low glycemic index and reduce your risk of weight gain.
Fast Food
Eating fast foods and sugar-sweetened beverages increase blood sugar and are associated with weight gain. Research by scientists at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and published in "The Lancet" in January 2005 discovered fast-food consumption is associated with insulin resistance and weight gain and increases risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Research by scientists at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts and published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in August 2004 reports consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages with rapidly absorbable sugars and excessive calories is associated with weight gain and increased risk of Type 2 diabetes.
References
- "Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology"; Glucose-Induced Lipogenesis in Pancreatic Beta-Cells Is Dependent on SREBP-1; Maria Sandberg, et al.; August 2005
- MayoClinic.com; Glycemic Index Diet: Losing Weight with Blood Sugar Control; November 2009
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Diabetes Overview; November 2008
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes; October 2008
- "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders"; Insulin Resistance and Weight Gain in Postmenopausal Women of Diverse Ethnic Groups; B.V. Howard, et al.; August 2004
- Harvard Medical School: Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load for 100+ Foods
