Weight Loss
in Type 2 Diabetics
Nearly nine out of 10 people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight, making weight loss a concern. Not only does maintaining a healthy weight help control problems related to your diabetes diagnosis, it also improves your overall health. The best way to lose weight is by employing a savvy combination of diet and exercise.
The Facts
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in the United States today. Of the 23.6 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, 90 percent have type 2 diabetes.
In type 2 diabetes, your body doesn't get enough insulin, either because it doesn't make enough insulin or because it doesn't properly use the insulin it makes.
Type 2 diabetes is controlled with diet and exercise. About half the people with type 2 diabetes also need to take insulin medication.
Significance
It's no wonder that weight loss is a concern for many people with type 2 diabetes. According to research at Johns Hopkins University, a seriously overweight person is seven times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than a person who maintains a healthy body weight.
The good news: Even though you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes when you weigh too much, losing weight can improve your diagnosis and in some cases even reverse it completely. According to Johns Hopkins University, losing as little as five pounds can have a positive impact on your body's insulin production, but a 7 to 15 percent weight loss delivers maximum effects.
Diet
Contrary to popular belief, a diabetes diagnosis doesn't have to mean a complicated special diet.
The American Diabetes Association recommends making a comprehensive list of what you eat every week and then coming up with smart ways to substitute low-fat alternatives for any high-fat foods you usually eat.
The ADA also recommends breaking down your daily diet so that you get less than 65 percent of your daily calories from carbohydrates, between 10 and 35 percent of your calories from protein, and the remaining 20 to 30 percent of calories from fat.
In general, to lose weight, you must use more calories than you consume, so reducing the total number of calories you eat each day can help with weight loss.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the most important tools in weight loss for type 2 diabetics. Not only does it help your body burn more calories to achieve your weight loss goals, it also helps blood sugar levels drop significantly for up to 48 hours after your workout.
Considerations
Talk with your doctor or health care professional before starting any new diet or exercise routine.
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