Diabetes is a chronic health condition affecting more than half a billion people worldwide. It is also one of the leading causes of death and disability. In the United States, diabetes was the eighth leading cause of death in 2021.
It’s no surprise that global organizations, governments, and medical institutions allot many resources to find ways to manage diabetes better.
Managing diabetes involves many factors. One way of managing diabetes works on the main goal of controlling the body’s glucose levels with an emphasis on weight loss. Diabetes weight loss plans hinge on the fact that maintaining a healthy weight is one of the keys in managing this particular condition. This leads to improved quality of life, reduced complications, and lower healthcare costs because of the following:
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Coordinated Approach
Diabetes weight loss plans can be compared to chronic disease management programs that coordinate different interventions customized to each person to achieve health goals. In diabetes, the issue in maintaining blood glucose levels. Excess weight or excess fat in the body can affect blood glucose levels, and increase the risk for diabetes and diabetes complications.
Diabetes weight loss plans include customized nutrition plans, food tracking, blood sugar monitoring, and support to help people better manage weight and diabetes.
Simplicity
Managing your health especially when you have a medical condition is already a complex world to navigate. You have the appointments, the tests, the medications, the many medical professionals. With diabetes, you have to add monitoring your blood glucose, preparing diabetic-friendly recipes, and making sure your body is in the best shape possible to avoid complications.
Having a plan which includes multiple factors such as having meal plans and food tracking in one relieves some of that burden.
Customized Nutrition
A healthy diet is important in a healthy life, more so in diabetics. However, it’s not as simple as restricting what you can eat. A diet that is too restrictive can result in diet failure.
Diabetes weight loss plans customize meal plans based on medical history, blood glucose level, medication, and nutrient needs. Instead of focusing on restrictions, it focuses on allowing for more nutrient-dense foods such as fresh produce which have been found to decrease blood sugar, body mass index, and blood pressure.
Healthy Routine
There are many health benefits of physical activities such as walking, running, yoga, or dancing. Exercise is recommended to prevent diseases, maintain a healthy weight, and to improve quality of life. Diabetes weight loss plans can promote keeping up an active routine by having fitness trackers and fitness goals incorporated into the plan.
Making it easy to track what you can eat without being too restrictive, and having prepared meal plans, also builds healthy habits as you get used to eating healthy as a habit.
Complication Prevention
Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and increases the risk for complications associated with diabetes such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Additionally, excess body fat can lead to difficulty maintaining blood glucose and avoiding unhealthy eating.
Treating obesity by working on losing weight and keeping weight off helps prevent and manage diabetes and its related complications.
Support
When living with a chronic disease such as diabetes, professional support is needed for proper monitoring and treatment. Community support is also important. This makes it easier for people with diabetes to have a positive outlook and feel more confident in managing their condition.
Diabetes weight loss plans include connections to people who also have diabetes, on the same diabetic medications, or have the same weight loss goals to provide more insight as well as encouragement and empowerment.
Sustainability
Diabetes is a lifelong condition, and managing it needs a plan that is also long-term. Without a solid plan, it is easy to fall into crash diets, fad diets, unhealthy eating, and a sedentary lifestyle. This can lead to uncontrolled diabetes, complications, and poor quality of life.
Providing information, support, and easy ways to plan your life around your meals and blood glucose make diabetes weight loss plans easier to follow and maintain.
Review 7 Reasons Why Diabetes Weight Loss Plans are Changing Lives for the Better.