The importance of weight management with Type 2 diabetes

In the U.S., more than 5,000 people a day are diagnosed with diabetes — and 95% of them have Type 2. For these folks, being overweight or having obesity is often what tipped them into full-blown diabetes, and if they continue to gain weight after diagnosis, their risk of diabetic complications soars.

A study in Clinical Epidemiology tracked folks for four years after diagnosis and found that only 10% of them lost weight and around 3% put on pounds. For folks whose weight went up, so did their health challenges. They were almost three times more likely to develop microvascular complications such as retinopathy, kidney disease and nerve damage, and macrovascular complications like heart attack or stroke, compared to those who stayed the same weight. And losing even 5% of body weight after diagnosis, well, that’s associated with improved glucose control, less need for diabetes medications and a lower risk of complications.

So, after diagnosis, do yourself — and your children — a favor and work toward a healthy weight. We say that because if you’re overweight and have diabetes, your child is likely headed that way. A study in Pediatric Obesity found that 82% of parents were overweight or obese and almost 54% of their kids were, too. To reduce the risks associated with diabetes for yourself — and your kids — adopt a family plan to upgrade meals (no added sugars or ultra-processed foods) and get regular physical activity together. Walking — with your kids — is key. For 24/7 support for your efforts, visit Longevityplaybook.com and Dr. Oz’s blogs at iherb.com.

Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iherb.com, the world’s leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1’s).