Obesity and Diabetes Cause Chronic Inflammation: Here’s What to Do About It

Obesity, inflammation, and type 2 diabetes are interconnected in a cyclical way.

The good news is that reining in inflammation can improve your blood sugar and help you manage your weight, as well as your overall health.

Inflammation is your body’s normal response to injuries, illness, and threats such as germs. When your immune system senses that you’re hurt or sick, it triggers the release of inflammatory chemicals to help you heal.

“Obesity, chronic inflammation, and diabetes are interconnected in a cycle that feeds on itself,” says Yesika Garcia, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist with Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York City.

Here’s how it works. Excess body fat, especially belly fat, signals the release of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines that trigger chronic, low-grade inflammation throughout the body.

Inflammation disrupts how your body uses insulin, the hormone that helps the body store and use the sugar we get from food. This makes it harder to move sugar from the blood into cells, Dr. Garcia says.

“That can make it harder to lose weight, keeping the cycle going,” says Nicole Schneider, NP, an endocrinology nurse practitioner with UWHealth in Madison, Wisconsin.

• Body aches or pain
• Chronic fatigue or trouble sleeping
• Constipation, diarrhea, or acid reflux
• Depression or anxiety
• Frequent colds or infections
• Trouble maintaining a healthy weight

Chronic inflammation also keeps the immune system switched on, which can inflame blood vessels, organs, and tissues and interfere with normal healing processes, says Donna Casey, MD, an internal medicine physician on the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas medical staff in Dallas.

That can raise your risk of heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke, all of which are also more common when you have obesity and diabetes.

• Asthma
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis or liver disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis

“Inflammation harms blood vessels, making them sticky and leaky like clogged, weakened pipes,” Schneider says.

Healthy habits can help keep chronic inflammation in check. They can also help you reach or maintain a healthy weight and manage your diabetes. In some cases, medications can also play a role.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

• Fruits
• Vegetables, such as broccoli, leafy greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes
• Beans and legumes
• Whole grains, including whole-wheat bread and whole-wheat pasta
• Lean proteins, such as seafood and lean poultry
• Healthy fats, such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocado

“These foods are packed with antioxidants, fiber, and healthy oils that reduce the production of inflammatory molecules in the body,” Garcia says.

• Red or processed meat
• Baked goods
• Bread and pasta made with white flour
• Fried foods
• Sugary foods and beverages

Exercise Regularly

“Aerobic and non-aerobic exercise both lower blood levels of inflammatory markers and increase levels of anti-inflammatory markers,” Dr. Casey says.

Everyone’s exercise needs and tolerance are different, however. Talk to your healthcare team about the exercise routine that might be right for you before starting a new workout plan.

Lose Weight

Dietary and exercise adjustments can be a good way to start losing weight. Especially for people with obesity, losing weight can help manage type 2 diabetes and inflammation.

“As fat tissue shrinks, the body produces fewer inflammatory molecules and instead releases more beneficial hormones that support healthy metabolism,” Garcia says. “This shift not only lowers inflammation but also allows muscles and the liver to use glucose more efficiently, which keeps blood sugar steadier.”

Weight loss isn’t easy, and for some people it may not be appropriate. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about a weight-management strategy that works for your specific situation.

Consider Medications

Medications can help you lose weight and control your blood sugar when lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough.

If you have diabetes, it’s crucial to stick to your treatment plan to ensure you are managing your blood sugar effectively. The same goes for any other medications you are prescribed for inflammation, obesity, or related conditions, such as high blood pressure.

Some medications prescribed to treat diabetes or obesity may have direct inflammation-fighting effects:

• Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, the drug family that includes the blockbuster diabetes and obesity treatment semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), can help reduce inflammation.

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• Metformin, the first-line therapy for most people with type 2 diabetes, also has a significant anti-inflammatory effect. Research is still needed to determine how effective it can be at treating chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

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• SGLT2 inhibitors, which help your body remove extra sugar, may reduce inflammation in people with type 2 diabetes.

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  They may also lower the risk of gout.

Talk with your doctor to ensure that you understand the benefits and risks of medications for diabetes and weight loss. Together you can decide on the right treatment for you.

• Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic inflammation may go hand in hand, with one condition causing another or making it worse.
• Chronic inflammation can help speed the development of diabetes complications such as cardiovascular disease and kidney disease.
• Dietary changes, regular exercise, weight loss, and the prudent use of medication can help you reduce inflammation and keep your chronic disease risks in check.