Weight Loss May Help Diabetics Avoid Severe Infections, Says New Study
Washington [US], September 8: New research suggests that weight loss therapies could reduce the risk of severe flu and other infections in diabetes patients. This study will be presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Madrid, Spain, from September 9-13.
Key Findings
Researchers Rhian Hopkins and Ethan de Villiers from the University of Exeter Medical School in the UK found evidence linking severe illnesses to higher Body Mass Index (BMI). However, there was no evidence that mild hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) contributes to severe infections.
Hospitalization Risks
Hopkins noted, “Up to one in three hospitalizations in people with diabetes are for infections, and they are twice as likely to be hospitalized with infections compared to the general population.”
The study used data from the UK Biobank, which includes medical and genetic information on around 500,000 people. Participants were divided into three groups: those hospitalized for bacterial infections (64,005), viral infections (14,562), and an infection-free control group (408,357).
A higher BMI was associated with a 30% increase in the likelihood of hospitalization for bacterial infections and a 32% increase for viral infections per 5-point BMI increase. Mild hyperglycemia was also linked to severe infections, with a 32% increase in bacterial infections and a 29% increase in viral infections per 10mmol/mol increase in HbA1c (a measure of blood sugar levels).
Genetic Evidence
The team used Mendelian randomization, a technique that uses genetic data to determine causality, to confirm that higher BMI is a cause of severe infections. However, mild hyperglycemia did not appear to be a cause.
Implications for Diabetics
Although the study did not focus solely on diabetics, the findings are particularly relevant to them due to their vulnerability to infections. Hopkins emphasized, “Infections are a major cause of death and ill health, especially in people with diabetes. This study shows that higher BMI is a cause of hospital admission with infection.”
She suggested that clinicians discuss weight loss options with patients who have a high BMI and are at risk of severe infections and hospital readmissions.
Doubts Revealed
Diabetics -: Diabetics are people who have diabetes, a condition where their body has trouble controlling the amount of sugar in their blood.
Severe Infections -: Severe infections are very bad illnesses caused by bacteria or viruses that can make people very sick and sometimes require them to go to the hospital.
Weight Loss Therapies -: Weight loss therapies are methods or treatments that help people lose weight, such as diet plans, exercise programs, or sometimes medicines.
European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) -: The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) is a group of doctors and scientists in Europe who study diabetes to find better ways to treat and prevent it.
BMI -: BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height to see if they are underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
UK Biobank -: The UK Biobank is a large collection of health information from many people in the United Kingdom, used by researchers to study how diseases develop and how to prevent them.
Bacterial and Viral Infections -: Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria, and viral infections are caused by viruses. Both can make people sick, but they are treated differently.
Preventive Measure -: A preventive measure is something done to stop a problem before it happens, like eating healthy to avoid getting sick.
