An October 2023 report presented to the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) said,
“Our results suggest that the increased risk of death in individuals with diabetes who have low muscle mass isn’t mediated or influenced by frailty, poor blood sugar control or microvascular complications but due to the loss of muscle itself. More research is needed to determine just how sarcopenia increases the risk of death.”
“For most people with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity, guidelines recommend nutrition, physical activity and behavioural therapies to achieve and maintain weight loss.”
“However, there are limitations to assessing treatment goals based on weight loss alone because body weight cannot distinguish between fat and muscle mass and so does not reveal if someone is sarcopenic.”
“It is important to consider body composition when treating obesity and managing weight in people with diabetes.”