The Effects of Weight Loss on Type 2 Diabetes

Posted: Aug 03 in Obesity and your Health by Staff

If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, losing weight can help lessen symptoms and prevent future complications. If you lose enough weight, either with medical weight loss or bariatric surgery, you may even be able to cure yourself of the disease completely.

It’s estimated that 80% of people who have type 2 diabetes are also overweight or obese. This excess weight, especially in the midsection, may contribute to the disease. However, type 2 diabetes can also make it difficult for people to lose weight because of prescription medications used to treat the disease, complicated genetic links, and increased insulin resistance.

Although it may be more difficult, losing weight offers a lot of benefits for people with type 2 diabetes. Even a moderate weight loss can often result in lower blood sugar, blood pressure, insulin resistance and a lowered risk of heart attack, kidney failure and stroke. Working to lose weight by exercising and eating a healthy diet, regardless of weight loss results, may also ease some symptoms.

People who have recently developed type 2 diabetes may be able to completely resolve their symptoms if they lose weight. This is most likely to occur if the patient is young and able to achieve a body weight within the normal range.

Doctors encourage patients with type 2 diabetes who are overweight to work towards weight loss. Even if the disease is not cured, patients who lose weight are less likely to suffer from serious complications, including amputation, later in life.