Weight and the Impact on Type 2 Diabetes

Jul 1, 2022 | Julia Jurgensen | @juliajurgensen

Written by Amy J. Koenigs, RN, CDCES, FNP-BC, BC-ADM

Carrying extra weight especially around the waist increases insulin resistance, putting you at risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and some cancers. Extra weight can also raise blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and sleep issues, but don’t despair! Even a 10–15-pound weight loss can make a difference in helping manage these conditions and reducing insulin resistance. Today, there are more options than ever before to help get a jump start to success. The cornerstone to managing Type 2 diabetes is activity and nutrition for weight management.

The Impact of Activity

The current recommendation is to achieve 30 minutes of moderate activity most days, though weight will come off a faster if you are able to complete 60 minutes most days. Begin with activities you enjoy and start out slow. Build up to avoid injury and improve the sustainability. Try to add 2-3 days of strength training to train those muscles to burn glucose more efficiently.

The Impact of Nutrition

The goal of nutrition related to diabetes and weight loss is to reduce overall calories and excess fat. This can be done by consuming smaller portions and replacing processed foods with healthier choices. The American Diabetes Association endorses the Mediterranean diet. Choose what works for you and can be sustainable for life.

Impact of Medications

Managing type 2 diabetes with lifestyle and medication management has an expanded toolbox compared to even a few years ago. There are diabetes medications that lower glucose and have shown support of weight loss. These include sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i oral agents) and glucagon like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA injectable or oral). Besides lowering glucose and weight, they also have shown benefit in reducing risk of heart and kidney disease.

Impact of Weight Surgery

Weight loss surgery can make a significant difference in management of type 2 diabetes with some blood glucose levels returning to normal after surgery. Reducing weight allows the body to improve insulin resistance. This has shown to have more of an impact in the earlier years of diabetes.

Summary

Weight loss has a significantly positive impact on insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions related to weight. Weight loss is a lifelong process through activity, nutrition, and some medical management. Start now by rallying a support team as a powerful motivator to set attainable goals, accountability and insight for success. There are tracking websites and apps that can also help with accountability and insight into barriers to help you reach success.