How Does Losing Weight Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
Maintaining a healthy weight has obvious health benefits, but it can also help you manage type 2 diabetes more effectively. Losing weight as a diabetic can improve your blood sugar control and lower your risk of diabetes complications. This could include factors such as high blood pressure and artery plaque buildup. Weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes, potentially putting the disease into remission with sustained weight loss. So how does losing weight reverse type 2 diabetes? Let’s see how.
What Does Research Say? | Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
To manage type 2 diabetes, your doctor probably preaches healthy eating habits and exercise. Whilst both of these things help keep your blood sugar in check, they can also help you lose weight. And, according to a study published in the journal BMJ in September 2017, losing weight may be the key to reversing type 2 diabetes.
The authors observed that losing 33 pounds (lbs) frequently aids in diabetes remission. Yes, that sounds quite specific, but it makes more sense when you consider that the data is based on losing 15 kilograms, or 33 pounds. It’s a bold statement, given that many people believe type 2 diabetes is a chronic, lifelong disease.
The following figure is based on previous research: A study published in the journal Diabetes Care in May 2016 discovered that 40 percent of people who lost about 33 pounds and kept it off for six months by following a low-calorie diet were able to put their diabetes into remission.
The authors of that study concluded that type 2 diabetes is a potentially reversible condition. However, this does not imply that you should set a specific goal of losing 33 pounds. Further research on the actual weight loss required is ongoing.
Indeed, this is part of a larger body of research that was presented in December 2017 at the International Diabetes Federation. And, while 40% of people putting diabetes into remission is an impressive figure, it also suggests that this is possible for some people but not all.
The Relationship Between Diabetes and Weight Loss
It is well established that if you have prediabetes, losing weight can keep the condition from progressing to full-blown diabetes. The magic range is losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight. If you weigh 200 pounds, that would be 10 to 14 pounds.
So, why does losing weight make such a difference? The key mechanism for reversing type 2 diabetes is fat loss from the pancreas and liver. Losing weight as a diabetic or pre-diabetic by reducing caloric intake for eight weeks improves the function of beta cells. These beta cells are found in the pancreas and have the function of storing and releasing insulin. According to the researchers, insulin resistance and insulin secretion issues are all caused by excess fat in the pancreas and liver.
Is there a problem? Many people with type 2 diabetes are unaware of the importance of losing weight. This can have a significant impact on their future health. The consequences are severe, especially because people are developing the disease at a younger age. This is because the complications associated with Diabetes Type 2 take time to manifest. Rather than relying solely on medication to manage blood sugar, losing weight has the added benefit of addressing the underlying cause of the disease.
Why Does Diabetes Reversal Rely on Long-Term Weight Loss?
So here’s the catch: weight loss for diabetics may be simple at first, but keeping it off is difficult. Weight loss maintenance is critical, and appropriate strategies must be in place. That is crucial. Otherwise, you run the risk of reverting to old habits. If this occurs, your numbers may return to the diabetes range. When people are first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, they become extremely strict, beginning with exercise and diet control. They may even see their blood sugar levels return to normal. They are happy and relieved as they lose weight. However, after a few months, the motivation fades; most people return to their old habits, and diabetes returns. This is where the support of healthy weight loss supplements becomes significant. Exipure is one of many dietary supplements that target the source of belly fat and slow metabolism.
There’s also something called the weight set point, which describes how losing weight becomes increasingly difficult as you lose pounds due to a loss of metabolism. Many people are unaware of the importance of losing weight when dealing with type 2 diabetes. If they truly understand- that if you shrink your fat cells, you will be able to use the insulin more effectively, so you can produce less insulin, so in a way, you are saving your pancreas from overworking and eventually not being able to make enough insulin – they will be more willing to make permanent changes.