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The Sweet Way Out: Managing Diabetes and Excess Weight Hand in Hand

Diabetes with excess weight

Did you know that excess weight and diabetes can have a toxic relationship that can cause serious harm to your health? This relationship between diabetes and obesity can lead to a vicious cycle that significantly increases the risk of various health complications. This is a harmful relationship that can affect anyone, including your loved ones1. Unfortunately, this is especially true in India, where diabetes rates are high, and the burden of obesity is increasing.

Making a decision to move more and lose weight is a great start. However, the real key is to make physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits a regular part of your diabetes management. Here are some tips to help you take the first steps towards reducing excess weight:

Start now
The first step is to start moving a little more than you are currently. You can start by making simple choices that bring more physical activity into your day, such as walking more when running errands or seeing family and friends. Be creative and find ways to make exercise fun and enjoyable.

Start small
You don't have to start with a marathon. A simple way to start might be with a 5-minute stroll. You can gradually increase your walking time to 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and so on. Building up your activity levels gradually will help you establish a regular exercise routine that you can stick to in the long run.

Together, let's work to break up the unhealthy relationship between excess weight and diabetes. By making healthy lifestyle choices and seeking appropriate medical advice, we can significantly improve diabetes management and improve our overall health and well-being.

What is the link between excess weight and diabetes?

There is a strong link between excess weight and diabetes. Excess weight can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and people with diabetes are more likely to be overweight or obese. Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of diabetes and improve diabetes management.

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What are some simple ways to increase physical activity?

Simple ways to increase physical activity include walking more, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, gardening, dancing, and joining community organizations or sports teams. Be creative and find ways to make exercise fun and enjoyable.

In conclusion, excess weight and diabetes can have a toxic relationship that can cause serious harm to your health. Breaking the toxic relationship between diabetes and excess weight requires a long-term commitment to lifestyle changes and ongoing monitoring of blood sugar levels. Struggling with diabetes and weight can be stressful and frustrating, but it's important to stay positive and keep moving forward. With dedication, support, and a proactive approach to managing both conditions, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of complications and improve their overall health and well-being. By making healthy lifestyle choices and seeking appropriate medical advice, we can significantly improve diabetes management and improve our overall health and well-being. Let's work together to break up this unhealthy relationship and lead healthier, happier lives.

References

  1. Moosaie F et al. Prim Care Diabetes. 2022 Jun;16(3):422-429.
  2. IDF Diabetes Atlas 10th edition 2021. Available at https://diabetesatlas.org/idfaw p/resourcefiles/2021/07/IDF_Atlas_10th _Edition_2021.pdf. Accessed on 10 Feb 2023
  3. ElSayed NA et al. Diabetes Care. 2023 Jan 1;46(Suppl 1):S111-S127. Davies MJ et al. Diabetes Care. 2022 Nov 1;45(11):2753-2786.
  4. Gupta S et al. PLoS One. 2020 Apr 1;15(4):e0229716
  5. Borgharkar SS,BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2019 Jul 14;7(1):e000654.

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