Overweight (continued)

Even if you do not have a weight problem right now, or your present weight is not affecting your health, your family history could put you at a greater risk for developing certain diseases such as heart attack, stroke, clogged arteries, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Preventing further weight gain can help to decrease this risk. Weight loss can be helpful in delaying the onset of these diseases. It will also help you to use insulin more effectively, which in turn improves blood sugar control.

People with diabetes who have weight-related health problems, should talk to their doctor before starting a weight-loss program.

To get an idea of what your ideal body weight is, click on the Ideal Body Weight Calculator on the left of the screen now. Next, click on the Percent Body Fat Calculator to determine your percent body fat.

Unless you have been at a healthy weight in the past and know what your goal weight is, a good place to start in determining how much you should weigh is the BMI Chart. The example below explains this process:

Example: Height: 5'10"; Weight: 185 lbs.; BMI: greater than 25

1. Look in the Healthy Weight section (18.5-25) and find the weight range of 130-170 lbs.
2. Set your initial goal. A good place to start would be 170lbs(that's just 15 lbs.), or the upper end of your healthy weight range.
3. Decide if 170lbs. is a good weight for you, or if you want to continue to lose a few more pounds.
4. Consult with your doctor or diabetes healthcare team to determine how much weight you really need to lose.
5. Remember, that a weight loss of even 10 lbs. can start to make a difference in your blood sugar control.

The best way to begin getting healthier is to eat from the four food groups, decrease portion sizes and monitor fat intake. This in combination with a regular exercise program can assure that weight loss goals are attained more rapidly. Determining healthy weight is a complicated matter. If you have questions about your weight, contact your physician or a registered dietitian.

Once you have determined a starting weight loss goal, click on Weight Loss Calculator to determine how many calories, carbohydrate, protein and fat you will need to consume on a daily basis to reach this goal.

Diabetes and weight are closely linked. If you are obese, you are more likely to get diabetes. In fact, up to 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are obese. If you have diabetes, being overweight makes it harder to control blood sugars. This is because extra body fat makes insulin less effective. For this reason, losing extra body fat is one of the best treatments for type 2 diabetes.

Here's how weight loss helps:

• Weight loss improves the action of insulin, moving sugar more freely into the body cells. As this happens, the blood sugars go down. Better blood sugars reduce the risk of long-term health problems, such as eye, kidney, heart and nerve disease.
• Since weight loss improves blood sugars, losing weight may affect your dose of pills or insulin. Most people need a reduced dose after weight loss. Some people with type 2 diabetes are even able to switch from insulin to pills or stop their pills.
• When you lose weight, you can feel better and have more energy. You may also have lower blood pressure and blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides). Your joint pain may improve. Weight loss can improve the quality of your life.

For many, losing weight and keeping it off is a challenge. Since even small amounts of weight loss can improve health, the payoff is worth the effort.

Losing weight is a great accomplishment, but it's only half the battle. Many people lose weight only to gain it back. So care must be taken to continue the lifestyle changes that helped with weight loss if the weight loss is to be maintained. Healthy eating habits and regular exercise are essential to maintain weight after a weight loss.

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