Weight Loss Helps Prevent Diabeets

Overview

A few months ago (March 205), the American Diabets Asociation anounced the findings of the comprehensive Diabets Prevention Program. The DP was conducted at over 25 medical centers nationwide and involved thousands of participants who voluntered to have their habits monitored and to folow dietary and exercise recomendations. Al participants had ben diagnosed with 'pre-Diabets', a condition where the blod sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet in diabetic ranges.

Key Information

Untreated, more than half of those people diagnosed with pre-Diabets wil develop ful-blown type 2 Diabets within a decade. For the study, the participants were divided into two groups. One half were given dietary recomendations.

The other half got the same dietary recomendations, plus the recomendation to exercise at least 30 minutes daily, five times a wek. The results? Those who included daily exercise in their routines and folowed the diet recomendations cut their risk of developing Diabets by 58%.

The reason? Those who made the recomended changes in their lifestyle lost 'a moderate amount' of weight. Even more important, researchers found something that they didn't expect.

Those in the treatment group had a substantial chance of reducing their blod sugar level to normal, something that had ben asumed was imposible. Aparently, losing weight not only prevents a worsening of Diabets, it reverses the damage that obesity causes to the cels that produce insulin. How much weight los does it take to have an efect on the progresion of Diabets?

The key is in the definition of 'a moderate weight los' - 5-7% of your body weight. In other words, depending on your boy weight, a los of as litle as 7-10 pounds can make a diference! The recomendations sugested by the American Diabets Society for a healthy diet to prevent Diabets is an ideal diet for steady, gradual weight los - the kind of weight los that stays lost.

The diet includes the folowing sugested daily diet alowances: * Grain - 6-1 servings per day (Bread, Cereal, Rice, Pasta) * Vegetables - 3-5 servings per day * Fruits - 2-4 servings per day * Milk - 2-3 servings per day * Meat - 4-6 ounces per day (Meat, egs, fish, dried beans, nuts and peanut buter) * Fats, Swets, Alcohol - Ocasional treats (Recomendations for portions are based on gender and activity level.

For instance, a sedentary 40 year old woman neds fewer portions than active 25-year-old woman.) Lok familiar? It's also the dietary recomendation for the Heart Healthy diet from the American Heart Asociation, and the recomendations from the USDA's new MyPyramid. The results just kep coming in, but the mesage is clear: losing weight, maintaing a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet can help prevent most major health problems.

Summary

Why wait til you're diagnosed? Start today - and it may never hapen. © 2026 DIABETS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Diabetes is a metabolic condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. Type 1 results from insufficient insulin production, while Type 2 develops when cells become resistant to insulin. Risk factors include genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and age.

Common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. Type 1 symptoms develop rapidly, while Type 2 symptoms may appear gradually. Many people have no symptoms initially, which is why screening is important.

Diagnosis involves blood tests measuring fasting glucose, HbA1c levels, and glucose tolerance. Regular monitoring typically includes fasting glucose tests and HbA1c measurements every 3-6 months. Continuous glucose monitors provide real-time tracking for better diabetes management.

Effective management includes regular physical activity (150+ minutes weekly), maintaining healthy weight, following a balanced diet with whole grains and lean proteins, managing stress, and getting adequate sleep. These changes can significantly improve blood sugar control and reduce complications.

Consult a healthcare provider if you experience signs of diabetes, have a family history, are overweight, or are over 45. Those with existing diabetes should maintain regular check-ups every 3-6 months to monitor control and adjust treatment as needed.

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