Many people do not realize that obesity is considered a chronic disease and typically the root cause of the problem for most type 2 Diabetes. Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Obesity is generally defined as when you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Obesity not only puts you at risk for type 2 Diabetes but also other diseases such as:
- Heart disease and stroke
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Some cancers
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Depression
- Obstructive sleep apnea
Obesity
Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. People affected by obesity are about 6 times more likely to have high blood sugar. If you have type 2 diabetes, treatments that help you lose any excess weight, through reducing your carbohydrate intake especially processed bready carbohydrate, weight loss medications for the right candidate and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels better. These changes can help stop progression of diabetes and even reverse issues.
Diabetes Medications and Pre-Diabetes? Type 2 Diabetes?
Some diabetes medications are just covering up the downstream effects of poor diet and lifestyles. They will not cure or get to the root of the actual problem.
Best Plan – get to the root of the problem and get the weight off! Individualized diet changes based on a change in eating behaviors, a meal plan that works, weight loss medications if appropriate and individualized exercise will result in weight loss!
Remember it is the carbohydrate that accounts for most weight gain and affects your blood sugars. Just 15 grams of carbohydrate or a piece of bread can raise your blood sugar 30-40 points. Thus, a reduced carbohydrate diet but not a no carbohydrate diet is the way to go.
In addition, changing your behaviors such as waiting a little bit longer to eat your first meal of the day and waiting one hour between eating more carbohydrates can also help you lose weight and thus lower your blood sugars.
Shoot for a realistic weight goal and that can make all the difference!
Find a supervised program with licensed health care professionals that will help you individualize your new path to good health and help you reach that weight goal.
The best program is a medically supervised program with a registered dietitian and a health care provider/prescriber that can work with you on your individualized plan. We will provide you with an individualized trademarked diet, help you learn new behaviors and provide weight loss medications for the right candidate to give you a kick start. You do not have to stay on weight loss medications forever to keep the weight off as some believe.
Get accountability through weekly or monthly health visits, weigh-ins on a professional grade scale that does an analysis on your body composition and tracks your progress, monitoring through labs and measurements with a credentialed health care provider.
Get continued education, reinforcement and support for your specific Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) needs by working with a Registered Dietitian and health care provider. Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is covered by most insurance and you typically do not need a referral. Both the health care provider and the registered dietitian are contracted with most insurances.