Did You Know?

If you lost as little as 5-10 pounds you could better manage your diabetes. Here’s why losing a little means a lot.

Excess weight, especially around the midsection, can interfere with your body’s ability to use insulin effectively. “Losing a little bit of weight can make a difference in managing your diabetes,” says registered dietitian Patricia LaSalle of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network’s Helwig Health and Diabetes Center. “The biggest benefit is for those who lose 5-7 percent of their body weight.” That means a 150-lb. woman would benefit from losing around 7 pounds and for a 200-lb. man losing 10 pounds.

“People with diabetes who are shaped like an apple and carry most of their excess weight in the abdomen area are more insulin-resistant,” LaSalle says. By losing weight around the middle, insulin is better able to deliver sugar to the body’s cells where it’s used for energy.

How can you lose 5-10 pounds?

• Watch your portions. A serving of chicken, fish or beef is about the size of the palm of your hand and a serving of vegetables is equal to the size of a tennis ball.
• Eat smaller meals throughout the day. “This helps prevent overeating at one sitting,” LaSalle says.
• Exercise every day. As little as a 15-minute daily walk can help shed those unwanted pounds as well as control the amount of glucose in your blood—making it a win-win option.

ARTICLE TOOLS: