According to Dr. Elizabeth Barnes, a nutritionist at the American Diabetes Research Institute, being overweight and obese are the leading causes of type 2 diabetes, a disease that affects tens of millions of people worldwide. The good news is that if you reduce your body weight by 10 to 15%, many people can get your blood sugar back to normal without taking medication, says Barnes.
Weight loss helps improve insulin resistance
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body no longer uses insulin effectively, causing sugar levels to accumulate in the blood. Excess fat around the liver and abdomen is the main cause of this condition. When losing weight, especially in the abdominal area, insulin sensitivity increases, thereby helping the body control blood sugar better.
Research published in the British Medical Journal shows that obese people with type 2 diabetes who followed a low-calorie diet for 6 months lost an average of 13 kg and nearly half of the patients had completely lost diabetes.
How to lose weight effectively?
According to Dr. Barnes, the safest and most sustainable way to reverse the disease is to change your lifestyle, including a healthy diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep.
A low-calorie, vegetable, whole grains, and lean protein diet helps reduce blood sugar naturally.
Exercising 150 minutes/week, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming, can help maintain weight and improve insulin sensitivity.
In cases where it is difficult to control weight through diet, doctors can prescribe weight loss support drugs such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, which have been shown to reduce body weight by 10 -15%. In addition,bariatric surgery is also an effective solution, helping about 80% of obese patients achieve normal blood sugar levels after just a few weeks.
Maintaining results, the biggest challenge
Weight loss helps reduce diabetes but is not a "complete cure". When weight gain returns, the disease can recur. It is important to maintain a reasonable weight and check your blood sugar regularly to ensure long-term outcomes, Dr. Barnes emphasized.
Weight loss is not only a journey to get back in shape, but also an opportunity to recover health, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and live more proactively with this common chronic disease.
The information in the article is for reference only, not a replacement for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should talk directly to your doctor for accurate advice that is suitable for your health condition.
