Don't wait to shed pounds after diabetes diagnosis
People who lose weight often report to me many benefits they never anticipated when they first got serious about dieting. Many started out just wanting to improve their appearance. They lose weight and then find their bodies start treating them better in unexpected ways.
This syndrome especially applies to people with type 2 diabetes. According to a recent study, people who lose weight soon after a diabetes diagnosis display an improved ability to better control their blood pressure and blood sugar. Even more significant is that this improvement seems to carry over even if these patients go on to regain that weight. The researchers think there is a window of opportunity in the early stages after diagnosis.
People who peeled off the pounds within 18 months after finding out they had diabetes were up to twice as likely to hit blood pressure and blood sugar targets, measured against those who didn't lose weight. Such improvements mean people have better chances against diabetes-related kidney damage, heart disease, blindness and death.
More than 20 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. Most of them are overweight.
The study tracked 2,574 patients with type 2 diabetes between 1997 and 2002. Scientists documented the weights of these patients for three years and in the fourth year recorded glucose and blood pressure results.
Most patients hovered around the same weight. A group of 314 lost an average of 23 pounds, and that group was more likely to reach glucose and blood pressure targets in the fourth year.
These results point the way to the next study. There should be some examination of whether this beneficial effect is the result of healthy lifestyle changes that are made by some patients or whether the initial weight loss leads to body chemistry effects that improve the patient's sensitivity to insulin.
I've talked about the weight loss benefits for type 2 diabetes patients a lot in recent months. Weight loss is more likely to stick for patients who have nutritional counseling and for those who keep food intake diaries.
Minimize your consumption of processed foods and maximize fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, skip drinks that add sugar and corn syrup.
