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Type 2 Diabetes Awareness

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Updated: 11/2/18

November is 'National Diabetes Awareness Month'.  What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose).  When you have type 2 diabetes, your body is resistant to the effects of insulin (insulin is a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells) or your body doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level.

Almost 37% of Michigan adults have prediabetes and over 12 percent have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Of the list of risk factors, some are uncontrollable, including age, race, genetics and medical history. However, there are many risk factors that are manageable.

Diabetes Risk Factors that are Manageable Include:
• Weight o Being overweight is a primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin.
• Inactivity o The less active you are, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes. Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.

Studies have proven that controlling diabetes with diet and weight loss of even a few pounds is crucial to fighting type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that combining diet and exercise can reduce the risk of diabetes by 58 percent. Weight loss helps people with diabetes in two ways.

First, it lowers insulin resistance. This allows your natural insulin (in people with type 2 diabetes) to do a better job lowering blood glucose levels. If you take a diabetes medication, losing weight lowers blood glucose and may allow you to reduce the amount you’re taking, or quit taking it altogether.

Second, it improves blood fat and blood pressure levels. People with diabetes are about twice as likely to get cardiovascular disease as most people. Lowering blood fats and blood pressure is a way to reduce the risk.

Fortunately, up to 70% of cases of Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle.  Maintaining weight loss and learning how to lead a healthy lifestyle can reduce diabetes symptoms and help prevent Type 2 Diabetes.

At Medical Weight Loss Clinic, our program consists of one-on-one personal supervision and nutrition guidance by our medical staff. It’s the safest and most effective way for you to lose weight. Our programs use regular grocery store foods and the best part is that we’ll teach you to keep your weight off permanently.

We have designed a program specifically for diabetics. Patients follow our diabetic diet with all varieties of food. This is the key to long-term health, reducing your risk of heart disease, and reducing the symptoms of diabetes.

Learn how to lose weight and reduce your diabetes risk today!

Source:  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193

*Results may vary. Minimum purchase required. Some restrictions apply and discounts may not be used for online purchases.
When you enroll in a Medical Weight Loss Clinic program, the length of your program will be determined by you and the staff based on the amount of weight you want to lose and how quickly you want to lose it. Your actual weight loss will be determined by many factors, including, but not limited to: your medical circumstances, the plan you choose, adherence to the meal plan and use of nutritional supplements. Your goal and program duration information will be given to you in writing at the time of enrollment. As your program progresses, the rate you lose weight may change and you will have the opportunity to discuss this at every daily visit with your weight loss consultant, where changes to your meal plan and/or program can be made.