What Experts Are Saying About Diabetes And Weight Loss
People who are living with diabetes receive many different messages about weight loss. Many of these messages come from respected experts in the field; however, many more come from people who have no idea what they are talking about. When it comes to diabetes and weight loss, there are some things all the experts agree on, which all diabetics should take to heart when considering losing weight.
Lowering Your Insulin Does Not Produce Real Weight Loss
Many people experience a weight gain when they start taking insulin. This is because their bodies begin to convert food into energy properly. In other words, their body starts converting glucose properly and allows it to enter the cells, instead of eliminating it because it can’t use it.
But the truth is you are just becoming dehydrated, because your body is trying to get rid of the excess glucose, and you are only losing water weight – not fat.
“When you don’t take the right amount of insulin…you think you’ve lost weight, but you’ve only lost water.” – Joslin Diabetes Center
You Should Not Start The Latest Fad Diet – Or Any Fad Diet
Many people jump on the latest fad diet because they hear stories of how people have lost 50 pounds in a month. This kind of weight loss sounds like a great thing to a diabetic who is told they will become healthier if they lose weight. The problem is that most of these fad diets are unhealthy and cause a lot of issues in the body. Some fad diets can actually harm your health, and when it comes to diabetes and weight loss, the goal should be to improve your health, not harm it.
Moreover, fad diets just do not work for the long term. Most people end up following rigid fad diets for their weight loss and then, when they are done their diet, they go straight back to their habitual way of eating. This is why you have to change your lifestyle, not just ‘go on a diet’ for a while. While the risks are there for people without diabetes, people with diabetes have special risks that make fad diets even more undesirable.
“…fad diets can cause downward spikes in blood sugar. A fad diet can also increase cholesterol and blood pressure levels – creating a high-risk situation for someone with diabetes.” – WebMD
You Should Start Losing Weight If You Need To
There are many people who claim you can get rid of your diabetes forever if you lose weight and start eating a healthy diet and living a healthy lifestyle. There are a lot of different opinions on this. Some experts say it depends on how long you have had the condition, what your genes are like, and how severe your diabetes is.
However, all experts agree you should lose weight if you have diabetes. By doing so, you become less insulin resistant. In fact, losing just 5 percent of your weight can help to improve your blood sugar.
Plus, you receive a ton of other benefits as well, such as higher energy, lower cholesterol levels, and heart protection. Even if your diabetes does not disappear, you will still be healthier overall, which will help you lead a happier and longer life.
