Prediabetes Affects Body Composition and Handgrip Strength

The generally accepted definition of prediabetes is as follows: prediabetes is where an individual has abnormally high blood glucose, but the blood glucose is not high enough to be called diabetes. Prediabetes can affect the body in a number of ways. According to a recent study done in India, prediabetes can cause unwanted changes in body composition and handgrip strength. Treating prediabetes may mitigate these changes.

One of the blood-based criteria India typically uses to diagnose prediabetes is as follows: a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) greater than or equal to 100 mg/dL and less than or equal to 125 mg/dL. This is also one of the criteria the American Diabetes Association uses.

In the India study, 200 subjects were examined. One hundred of the subjects had prediabetes and 100 had normal blood glucose. The researchers used special measuring devices to assess the body fat percentage, the visceral fat, and the handgrip strength.

After crunching the data, the researchers found that the mean body fat percentage for the subjects with prediabetes was approximately 29% compared to approximately 25% for the subjects who had normal blood glucose. The visceral fat percentage was approximately 11% for the subjects with prediabetes compared to approximately 7% for the subjects who had normal glucose. And the handgrip strength was approximately 12% less for the subjects with prediabetes compared to the subjects who had normal blood glucose.  

So, the body fat percentages were higher for persons with prediabetes, while handgrip was lower compared with persons with normal glucose. Therefore, the researchers concluded that "changes in body composition and handgrip strength can be included as a primary care strategy to motivate lifestyle modifications."

Many people are interested in being slim and maintaining strength. Being slim is associated with attractiveness. And treating prediabetes to improve appearance and handgrip strength may be something a lot of people will be interested in. 

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Chronic Pain, Weight Loss and the Diabetes Prevention Program

The CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a program whose objective is to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes, and one of the key tools used in the program is weight loss. The DPP is a lifestyle change program. And lifestyle change programs can be very effective in weight loss. However, chronic pain can hamper the weight loss process. Therefore, chronic pain could be a negative factor for some participants in a diabetes prevention program, as well as other weight loss programs.

Chronic pain can exacerbate problems associated with weight loss and weight gain. Chronic pain increases inflammation, and inflammation can make it more difficult to lose weight and easier to gain weight. And persons experiencing chronic pain may be more likely to overeat. “The overeating occurs either as a response to pain itself, depression, and/or sleeplessness due to pain.” And of course, chronic pain often leads to less exercise because exercise is painful and chronic pain can hamper enthusiasm for exercise.

A recent retrospective study was done to determine the effect of chronic pain on weight loss. Health records were analyzed to identify persons who suffered from chronic pain during a weight loss study. Three-hundred and ninety-seven adults were studied. The study lasted 24 months. One third of the participants experienced chronic pain.

At six months, participants with and without chronic pain lost about 7 kg of weight. However, after 24 months, the participants with chronic pain lost less weight, losing 3.6 kg compared to 5.2 kg for the participants without chronic pain. The researchers concluded that "participants with chronic pain lost ∼33% less weight over 2 years, which was driven by greater weight regain after the first 6 months.”

Of course the effect that chronic pain has on weight loss and weight regain requires more research. Chronic pain might be an impediment in diabetes prevention, because the existence of chronic pain could hinder weight loss. And this would make it harder for a participant to meet the weight loss goals of the diabetes prevention program.

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Tags: environmental scanning, balanced scorecard, business planning, strategic management, bariatric medicine, obesity medicine, medical practice start up, bariatric industry analysis, weight loss industry analysis, weight management industry analysis, prediabetes, overfat