If you are a diabetic and are overweight or considered clinically obese, you can improve your overall health and the management of your diabetes by losing weight. It may seem like an overwhelming goal if you have tried in the past to lose weight and have failed. But there are steps you can take and support you can utilize to help you reach your goals.

The first step to losing weight is to set a short-term goal for yourself. You can do this on your own but can also get help from your doctor or a dietician. A good goal when
starting to lose weight is to take a small percentage of your overall weight and aim to lose
that much in your time frame. For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds aim to lose weight
5% of your body weight to begin (10 pounds). When you lose weight as a diabetic you
are helping your body by lessening your insulin requirements. Weight loss will also
assist you in keeping your blood sugar levels under control.

Another method to lose weight is physical activity and exercise. Getting your body
moving will increase your metabolism and that act will assist in losing weight too. Not
only will increased metabolism aid in weight loss, it will also help in controlling blood
glucose levels. Your body will be processing food more efficiently.

Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand with weight loss. It also takes patience and time but
as you begin the road to weight loss the benefits you will derive as a diabetic will begin
right away. And as you reach your goal weight you will gain better control of your blood
sugars. If you are having difficulty losing weight on your own, speak to your doctor
about other options that are available to you such as medication or possibly surgery.