By pH health care professionals
Type 2 diabetes
has been on the rise in the U.S. Of the people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes,
about 80 to 90 percent are also
diagnosed as obese. This provides an interesting clue to the link between
diabetes and obesity.
So, how exactly
can obesity cause Type 2 diabetes?
Having excess
body weight may induce or aggravate insulin
resistance (a key feature of Type 2 diabetes), research
shows. Obesity can cause an imbalance in certain hormones as well as defects in
the pancreatic cells that are responsible for producing insulin.
How can you be
more proactive?
- Get expert help. If you’ve tried to lose
weight on your own without success, there may be medical issues that need
to be addressed first, and then you need to find a fitness and nutrition
program that you actually enjoy, that works and that will keep you
motivated and on track. Someone who is both obese and diabetic may be
facing additional roadblocks to successful weight loss, including side
effects from diabetic medication, poor blood sugar regulation and control,
and related complications. A knowledgeable doctor can help you understand
what your options are and how you can lose weight safely and effectively.
- Set small goals for yourself. Research studies have
found that lifestyle changes and small amounts of weight loss (even
just 10-15 pounds) may help to prevent or delay the development of Type 2
diabetes among high-risk adults.
- Walk. Studies show that walking
for 150 minutes per week can help reduce diabetes risk by 40-60 percent.
- Get a meal plan. Nutritional counseling
may be beneficial for figuring out the appropriate caloric intake as well
as which foods to restrict and which to enjoy. Or better yet, pair private one-on-one
training with nutritional counseling to get
custom-tailored results that work for your lifestyle.
Enjoy Your
Healthy Life!
