Does being overweight put me at risk for diabetes?

Yes, being overweight increases your risk for developing diabetes. Obesity and diabetes are closely linked because of how excess fat and inactivity negatively affect your body. Excess fat actually increases your body’s resistance to insulin, which is the substance your body uses to process blood sugar correctly. Over time, this resistance can result in diabetes, or make existing diabetic problems much worse. Just as serious, obesity strains other systems throughout your body—including your heart, circulation, muscles, and skeleton—making it more likely you’ll develop diabetes and other health problems.