Metabolic disorders impact metabolism, creating abnormal chemical reactions including disruption in the way food is broken down to create energy and the regulation of this process. Two of the most common metabolic disorders are diabetes and obesity.

Diabetes is a disruption in the way the body uses or regulates insulin. Insulin helps glucose to enter cells and provide energy. With diabetes, the body does not process glucose normally, leading to higher levels in the blood. There are 3 types of diabetes: Type 1 which is caused by an autoimmune reaction leading the body to attack the pancreas thereby requiring supplemental insulin, Type 2 which makes insulin less effective, and gestational diabetes that develops during pregnancy.

Over 109 million people in the United States are living with obesity. Obesity is defined by excessive accumulation of body fat leading to a Body Mass Index, or BMI, over 30. Causes of obesity range from lifestyle choices to genetics, age, sleep patterns, and even stress. Obesity is significantly associated with comorbidities like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

 

 

 There are many established treatment options to treat diabetes, with new and more effective classes of medications available in recent years. Insulin is the standard of care for Type 1 diabetes with various mechanisms for delivery. For Type 2 diabetes, patients typically start with metformin. Glucagen-like peptides, or GLP-1, is a medication that controls blood sugar while also offering the benefit of weight loss for most users. Diet and lifestyle changes are also beneficial for control of diabetes. 

The goal of treatments for obesity is to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Often, a series of clinicians work together to achieve this goal including dieticians, behavioral counselors and obesity specialists. Medications like Contrave, Sazenda, Alli and Wegovy (GLP-1) are approved for treatment of obesity. Bariatric surgery is also an option to limit the amount of food that can be consumed