Type 2 diabetes weight loss is critical as the number of type 2 diabetics continues to rise in the US. Over 10% of the American population is type 2 diabetic, and over 86 million Americans are prediabetic.
About 8 out of every 10 people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, and excess weight—particularly around the belly—is a major cause of type 2 diabetes. Through weight loss, some type 2 diabetics may be able to cure their disease and free themselves of insulin dependence. However, the relationship between weight gain and type 2 diabetes is a very tricky one.
Complex relationship between type 2 diabetes and weight
Weight gain increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, along with an underlying genetic factor. Achieving weight loss for type 2 diabetics can often be more difficult due in part to the disease. Additionally, certain type 2 diabetes medications are associated with weight gain; as sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, and insulin. While it may feel like the deck is stacked against you, it is still critical to make an all-out effort to lose weight. The weight loss goal should not be to get back in your jeans from high school, but rather to prevent heart attacks, save your vision and avoid amputations/
Why type 2 diabetes weight loss is critical to improving health.
Weight loss is extremely beneficial for type 2 diabetics.
If you do lose weight, it will likely:
- Lower your blood sugar, which may allow you to delay or cut back on medication.
- Cut insulin resistance.
- Curb blood pressure and cholesterol, which can reduce your risk of heart attack, kidney failure and other serious complications.
Losing just 5% to 7% of your weight is associated with lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, and reduced insulin resistance. Often a dramatic weight loss can even cure type 2 diabetes, but that’s more likely to occur in younger, obese patients who shed pounds soon after diagnosis (and haven’t had the disease for years without knowing it).
Even if you still have diabetes after you shed weight, you have reduced your risk of complications.
Type 2 diabetes weight loss does not need to be a lifelong struggle. At Solstice Health, our diabetes weight loss program has helped hundreds of type 2 diabetics reduce their insulin resistance and in many cases cured their type 2 diabetes. If you are looking to learn more about are medical weight loss options for type 2 diabetes, please contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Solstice Health offers 3 convenient locations throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
Oconomowoc Wisconsin Location:
1020 Oconomowoc Parkway, Suite B
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 53066
New Berlin Wisconsin Location:
17043 West Greenfield Avenue
New Berlin, Wisconsin 53151
Mequon Wisconsin Location: (Opening Fall 2016)
10945 N. Port Washington Road
Mequon, Wisconsin 53092