Exercise seems to work off belly fat in particular because it reduces circulating levels of insulin —which would otherwise signal the body to hang on to fat—and causes the liver to use up fatty acids, especially those nearby visceral fat deposits, he says.
Among them are weight loss, exercise, glucose-lowering medication, and changes in food choices or eating habits. Tom says exercise is the most effective tool. Exercise helps by reducing body fat, which makes cells less resistant to insulin, and by building muscle, which helps the body use insulin more efficiently.
When a person takes insulin as a treatment for diabetes, they may gain weight. This is because their body begins absorbing glucose again and converting any excess into fat. If treatment does not manage diabetes well, and blood glucose levels are too high, this weight gain can occur.
It may not be easy but through healthy eating, increasing your cardio exercise and strength training, reducing stress and getting a good night's sleep you can prevent or reduce the dangerous visceral fat in your body.
A Vicious Cycle
This fat (also called visceral fat) is especially dangerous because it causes the liver and other organs to become fatty and inflamed. Visceral fat also causes Insulin Resistance, so it becomes a “chicken and the egg” situation since Insulin Resistance also causes this belly fat to accumulate.
If your cells become too resistant to insulin, it can result in elevated blood sugar levels, which can lead to weight gain, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Losing weight with insulin resistance is more difficult because the body stores excess blood sugar as fat.
Foods to avoid for insulin resistance
Foods like these increase your risk of a blood sugar spike: soda, juice, and sweet tea. refined grains, including white rice, white bread, and cereal with added sugar. ultra-processed snack foods like candy, cookies, cakes, and chips.
The good news is that like type 2 diabetes, diabetes belly fat can be reversed. Take Adam, a full-time canal boat captain, who shrank his waist size by 12 inches within his first seven months as a Virta member. After losing 40 pounds of fat from around his middle, he felt great.
Diabetic gastroparesis refers to cases of the digestive condition gastroparesis due to diabetes. Gastroparesis affects how the stomach moves food into the intestines and can lead to bloating, nausea, and heartburn.
Plain coffee does not seem to directly increase levels of blood sugar, or blood glucose. This is good news for people with diabetes who like black coffee. However, some research suggests that the caffeine in coffee could impair insulin sensitivity, which is not ideal for people with diabetes.
Research also indicates that ACV increases insulin resistance after a high-carbohydrate meal by improving insulin sensitivity, which can prevent blood sugar spikes after eating. Human studies have shown that ACV delays gastric emptying, also preventing blood sugar spikes, when given with a starchy meal.
Walking at a brisk pace or moderate intensity is an aerobic exercise. When you do aerobic activities regularly over time, you can see many health benefits: Blood glucose (blood sugar) levels go down. Insulin sensitivity goes up.
Intermittent fasting has been proven to initiate the repair of important cells in the body and balance hormone levels, which facilitates fat burning. On a broader scale, intermittent fasting also has a significant effect on metabolic health and the body's insulin levels.
A weight loss of 7-10% your current body weight can help prevent pre-diabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes. So, if you weigh 250 lbs., even a 17 lb. weight loss can make a difference.
Apple cider vinegar may help with diabetes and blood sugar control. Researchers have found that individuals with insulin resistance had a slower increase in blood sugar after eating starchy carbohydrates when they drank diluted cider vinegar before eating.
You'll need to get a blood test that checks your blood sugar levels. Likewise, you won't know if you have most of the other conditions that are part of insulin resistance syndrome (high blood pressure, low "good" cholesterol levels, and high triglycerides) without seeing your doctor.
There are some signs of insulin resistance that your doctor may look for. These includes a waistline over 40 inches in men, and a waistline over 35 inches in women. Skin tags or patches of dark velvety skin called acanthosis nigricans. A blood pressure reading of 130 over 80 or higher.
Thus, metformin is capable of accelerating the oxidation of fat in the liver, thereby leading to a decrease of visceral fat or body weight.