The relationship between diabetes and weight gain

Key Takeaways

• Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to weight gain in different ways.

• Type 2 diabetes is often linked to insulin resistance, which can lead to visceral fat around the midsection. This type of fat can increase health risks, but small changes can help.

• Managing weight with diabetes is possible. Small changes to eating, movement, and professional support can make a big difference.

• If you’re living with diabetes and excess weight, weight loss medication may also help by reducing hunger and supporting your efforts.
  

How diabetes can lead to weight gain

Can diabetes cause weight gain, and what is the nature of this relationship? Here, we’ll examine the links between type 1 or type 2 diabetes and weight gain.

Managing weight with type 1 diabetes

• Weight gain after starting insulin can be managed over time.
• Lifestyle changes, including balanced eating and physical activity, can help.
• Your diabetes team can support you in adjusting your insulin treatment and doses.

Type 2 diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may also have insulin resistance. This means your body doesn’t respond properly to insulin, whether it’s produced naturally or taken as medication. 

Insulin’s job is to move glucose from your blood into your cells for energy. If you have insulin resistance, your body is making insulin, but your cells aren’t responding to it properly – this resistance causes problems.

Here’s how it leads to weight gain:

1. Your body makes more insulin to compensate – Since your cells aren’t responding well, your pancreas releases even more insulin to try to get glucose into your cells.
2. Insulin encourages fat storage – One of insulin’s roles is to store extra glucose as fat. The more insulin your body produces, the more fat it stores—especially around your midsection.
3. Blood glucose spikes and crashes increase hunger – Because your cells struggle to absorb glucose, it stays in your blood, causing high blood glucose levels after meals. Your body then releases a lot of insulin at once to bring levels down. This can cause a blood glucose crash, making you feel tired, shaky, and hungry—often craving quick-energy foods like carbs and sugar.
4. Your metabolism slows down – When cells struggle to absorb glucose, your body thinks it’s low on energy. In response, it stores more fat and burns fewer calories, making weight gain more likely.

How does insulin resistance cause weight gain?

• The body produces more insulin to compensate for the insulin resistance.
• Higher insulin levels encourage fat storage, especially around the midsection.
• This can create a cycle where insulin resistance leads to more weight gain, making it harder to manage blood glucose levels.
• Blood glucose spikes and crashes can increase hunger and cravings, making it harder to maintain a balanced diet.

Breaking the cycle

• Lifestyle changes – eating a balanced diet and increasing activity levels can improve insulin sensitivity and stabilise blood glucose.
• Weight management support – the right guidance can help you reduce insulin resistance and maintain a healthy weight.

Even small, sustainable changes can make a big difference. With the right support, managing weight with type 2 diabetes is achievable.

When insulin levels are out of balance, blood glucose can rise and fall quickly, causing:

• Sudden hunger and cravings for high-carb, high-sugar foods.
• Energy crashes, making you feel sluggish and craving quick fixes.

Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) and weight gain

Some diabetes medications can lead to hypoglycaemia (dangerously low blood glucose), which may require:

• Unplanned carbohydrate intake to stabilise blood glucose.
• Extra calories, making weight loss more challenging.

Even people not at risk of hypoglycaemia may fear it and eat unnecessarily, which can contribute to weight gain. If you’re unsure how to manage this, speak with your healthcare provider for guidance.

Diabetes medication and weight gain

Some diabetes medications can contribute to weight gain, but it’s still possible to manage your weight while taking them. And it’s essential to prioritise your diabetes treatment. If you’re concerned, talk to your doctor—they can help you find the most suitable treatment for your needs.

If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll take insulin as a medication. Weight gain may occur as your blood glucose control improves. 

Insulin is a possible treatment for type 2 diabetes and it can cause weight gain through: 

• Increased fat storage – Insulin helps store excess glucose as fat, especially around the midsection.
• Increased appetite – As a growth hormone, insulin can stimulate hunger.
• Eating more due to hypoglycaemia – If blood glucose drops too low, extra food may be needed to stabilise it.

Sulfonylureas, a common diabetes medication, can also cause weight gain. Here’s how: 

• They stimulate the production of insulin from the pancreas. 
• This extra insulin helps to convert blood glucose from food into energy for your body.
• If the dose is too high, which can be challenging to assess initially, it can cause your blood glucose levels to fall too far. 
• You may need to eat more to avoid hypoglycaemia, while low blood glucose can also increase your hunger levels.

How lifestyle factors make a difference

Diabetes can make it harder to maintain certain lifestyle habits, which can affect weight management.

• Energy levels and movement – Insulin imbalances can affect how well your body converts food into energy. This can leave you feeling low on energy, making exercise feel harder. But even small increases in activity—like short walks or stretching—can make a difference.
• Food choices – What you eat plays a key role in weight management. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet with plenty of fibre and protein can help, while reducing refined carbohydrates may support blood glucose control.

Focusing on small, achievable changes can help you feel more in control of your health.

Is it hard to lose weight with diabetes?

Diabetes can make weight loss more challenging due to insulin resistance, blood glucose fluctuations, and certain medications. However, with the right approach, it’s absolutely possible—and losing weight can even help improve insulin resistance and diabetes symptoms.

Weight loss can also lower health risks like high blood pressure and cholesterol. Since diabetes adds extra challenges, it’s important to be kind to yourself and focus on sustainable changes rather than quick fixes.

A balanced approach—including nutritious eating, movement, and stress management—can make a real difference. If you’d like expert guidance, Oviva’s team of dietitians, doctors, and psychologists are here to support you.

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2. Physical activity

• Exercise improves insulin sensitivity and helps with weight management.
• Try a mix of aerobic exercise (like walking, swimming, or cycling) and strength training.

3. Stress management

• High stress can heighten cortisol levels which can increase appetite and slow metabolism.
• This makes you more likely to overeat and reduces the number of calories your body burns at rest. 
• Reduce stress with good sleep, meditation, yoga, or aerobic exercise, which releases mood-boosting endorphins.

Foods to avoid when you have diabetes

Being mindful of your food choices can help with blood glucose control and weight management. Here are some foods to reduce:

• Refined carbohydrates and high-sugar foods 

If you’re living with diabetes, it’s essential to be more carb-aware, as all carbohydrates will push up blood glucose levels. 

Limit foods that are high in sugar, including refined carbohydrates like white bread and pasta, as well as high-carbohydrate meals. These can cause blood glucose spikes and may contribute to weight gain.

• High-fat and salty foods

While healthy fats (like those in oily fish, nuts, and avocado) are beneficial, limit unhealthy fats found in fried foods, cakes, and processed snacks. Try to find a healthier alternative. For example, if you have a sweet tooth, opt for dark chocolate rice crackers or some dark chocolate coated nuts. Reducing excess salt can also help support heart health.