Very few people realize the profound effect that weight has on diabetes. Even instances of gestational diabetes are much greater in patients that are overweight than in those that are not. Type 2, or adult onset diabetes is more commonly found in overweight people than those that are within their 'ideal' weight ranges. In fact, almost 90% of those with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. If you are suffering from Type 2 diabetes, the best gift you could possibly give yourself just might be the gift of getting your weight under control.



Among those that suffer from Type 2 diabetes almost 40% have high blood pressure, which is another condition that is believed to be exacerbated by excess weight. Being overweight might also lead to a condition known as insulin resistance in which the body no longer responds to the insulin that is needed to assist the body in using sugar and glucose as fuel on a cellular level.

There are some things you can do to help yourself out if you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or labeled at risk for this devastating condition. First of all, take off the pounds. I know this is much easier said than done. Dieting is never easy and rarely fun for the average person. However, if you do not begin to take drastic steps toward procuring the best possible health for yourself you may not be able to enjoy the quality of life you had planned for your golden years. Let your condition be your motivation and make plans to enjoy watching your grandchildren and great grandchildren graduate college.

So what is the answer? Lose weight. Although it's easier said than done, there has to be a break in the cycle. Many people struggle with weight issues. Unfortunately there is no quick fix or magical serum that takes the effort out of weight loss. There is, however, nutrition and exercise. Good old fashioned work. This doesn't have to translate into hours of painful, resented exercise and carrot sticks. That was the old way of thinking. Try, instead, to see the new perspective on taking control of your health: living. Diabetes is a disease that will damage a body as quickly as a person allows it to. Taking control of your health, losing weight and making healthy lifestyle changes can mean the difference between being diabetes' dog or its master. Making the conscious decision to live better, eat better and exercise regularly will mean you may see your children have children. It's worth making little changes to witness that, right?

Along with nutrition, we have to consider exercise. Exercise has been found to not only combat an increasing weight problem, but it actually increases a cell's insulin sensitivity. By exercising, the cardiovascular system, endocrinal system and digestive system are greatly improved. The body's metabolism increases, burning more calories than at rest. The result is a caloric deficit that translates into shed weight. It is important to select activities according to an individual's abilities and interests. By doing so, the chance of exercise becoming a reoccurring event is increased. A person will return to an activity that they truly enjoyed.

Watch what you eat. Garbage in, garbage out, right? You have strict dietary requirements once you've been diagnosed with diabetes. This means that you absolutely must follow your dietary restrictions. Learn to live within those limits in order to live and enjoy life to the fullest you can. The amazing thing is that there are all kinds of foods available that are friendly to those with diabetes that weren't around just a few short years ago. It is quite possible to live and eat quite nicely with diabetes if you stick to your plan. The most important thing about dieting with diabetes is that you never lose sight of how crucial it is to do so.