User:Doreen71/sandbox

Who is at risk? People who are obese have a greater risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, mainly because weight affects how insulin works in the body. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps manage the levels of sugar and fat (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood. With weight gain, insulin can become less effective so that your body does not respond well to it. When your body is resistant (or less sensitive) to insulin, more sugar ends up in the blood. This condition is called insulin resistance and can lead to diabetes. Also, high blood pressure is more common in persons with insulin resistance. However, insulin resistance sometimes happens in people who are not obese, and it increases their cardiometabolic risk just as it does in obese people. How should cardiometabolic risk be treated? The goal of treatment is to reach the recommended levels for each separate risk factor. Changes in diet, exercise, and behavior are the first steps toward weight loss in obese patients. But if you have other medical problems, such as diabetes or heart disease, your doctor may recommend drug therapy to raise your good cholesterol, and/or lower bad cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and blood sugar. All treatment options have risks. Your doctor will work with you to find the best treatment option for you.