Type 2 Diabetes Weight Control

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is also known as non-insulin dependent or adult onset diabetes and is the most common form of the illness. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, in 2005 there were over sixteen million people in the United States with type 2 diabetes and more than another six million people who have it and do not even know it.

As the number of cases each year continues to grow a startling change is starting to take place. Type 2 diabetes is affecting more children and adolescents than ever before. It is believed that the number of increased cases of a type 2 to diabetes is directly associated with obesity and inactivity in the population of both children and adults.

Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

One of the main risk factors of type 2 diabetes is obesity. As weight is gained, the body becomes insulin resistant placing a much greater demand on the pancreas to produce insulin. In adults it is known that even modest weight loss, of five to ten percent of total body weight, helps reduce the ongoing progression of type 2 diabetes. In certain cases, weight loss has prevented type 2 diabetes from developing further and even reversed the disease.

Type 2 Diabetes and Weight Control

Weight control for anyone suffering with type 2 diabetes can be a life saving measure. Each year over 200,000 people die from diabetes and complications of the disease. In order to lose weight, it is necessary to burn more calories than you take in. A healthy weight is measured by using a body mass index, known as a BMI. A BMI below 25 is considered healthy, 25-29 is considered overweight and 30 or more is considered obese.

The health benefits of controlling or lowering your weight when you have type 2 diabetes are numerous. You will:

• Feel better
• Lower your blood sugar
• Improve your overall health while lowering your weight and reducing your BMI.

However, any type 2 diabetic weight loss plan should always be under supervision of your doctor as your blood sugar, insulin levels and medication intake needs to be closely monitored.

Dietary Recommendations for Type 2 Diabetes Weight Control

Dietary recommendations from the American Diabetes Association encourage following a healthy, low-calorie diet that provides a consistent slow weight loss. The recommended safe weight loss is between one half to 2 pounds per week. The number of calories taken in per day for women should be between 1000-1200 and for men between 1200-1600.

An excellent tool for weight control with diabetes type 2 is using the Food Pyramid. This pyramid varies slightly from the USDA food guide due to food groups being based on their protein and carbohydrate content instead of their food classification.

Resources for Weight Control for Type 2 Diabetes

• An excellent resource for weight control for people with type 2 diabetes is Jack Labat’s and Annette Maggi’s book Weight Management for Type 2 Diabetes: An Action Plan is available from Amazon.
• Written by Gary Frost, Anne Dornhorst and Robert Moses, Nutritional Management of Diabetes Mellitus focuses on the general topic of diabetes including dietary management and the metabolic principles of nutrition.
• The First Year Type 2 Diabetics: an Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Gretchen Becker is an excellent book with answers to many questions and frustrations that newly diagnosed patients experience.

Conclusion

In many cases type 2 diabetes can be prevented or the progression of the illness slowed, by following a healthy lifestyle and eating a well-balanced diet. Anyone that is at risk for type 2 diabetes, is prediabetic or has been diagnosed with the disease, needs to be aware that for type 2 diabetes weight control is extremely important.