The Relationship Between Weight and Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes affecting over 35 million Americans. This number continues to grow along with the number of Americans with pre-diabetes. Risk factors for both pre-diabetes and diabetes include carrying extra weight. If you have type 2 diabetes, or prediabetes, taking steps to improve your health through nutrition and lifestyle change may result in weight loss.  For those with a current diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, moderate weight loss may allow them to reduce their need for diabetes medications, lower their risk of developing complications from the diabetes and improve their quality of life. Those with pre-diabetes may be able to halt the progression of the disease.

Many patients come to us after being newly diagnosed with pre-diabetes by their primary care physician. Recent lab values can act as a wake-up call for a long-overdue lifestyle change. If you have been told to keep an eye on your sugar by your doctor, this may be an even earlier warning sign that you are headed down the road to a diagnosis of diabetes unless you make a dramatic change. That can be very overwhelming.

Here at Discover Health, we understand how overwhelming a new or threatened diagnosis of diabetes can be. We are here to help you put together a sustainable plan to improve your health and your weight and bring your diabetes into better control. Don't let fear of this disease paralyze you. Our patients learn how a well-controlled eating plan and medications combined with activity and exercise can improve their energy throughout the day and lead to weight loss.

For other patients, they have lived with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for many years and are developing other health conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, visual changes or kidney disease due to poorly controlled blood sugars. Our program can often help these individuals as our medical practitioners and health coaches partner with them to take back control of their health.

If you are ready to start moving your health in a new direction, call Discover Health today to set your new patient appointment. (941) 667-2796.