How to manage your weight when you're on medication for diabetes
Weight gain may be seen in people taking medications for diabetes[1]. However, keeping your weight in check is not only possible but an important part of your diabetes care.
The medications (oral diabetes pills and insulin) that you take for your diabetes lower blood glucose levels by ushering glucose from the blood into the cells. This is good. But if you take in more calories than you can burn, your cells will end up getting more glucose than they need. The excess glucose gets stored as fat leading to weight gain.
Other diabetes medications may increase weight by reducing the amount of glucose passed out in the urine so the body has more excess glucose to store as fat. Yet others contribute to weight gain by increasing fluid retention and appetite.
Related: How to Manage Fasting with Diabetes
Contrary to what many believe, you don’t have to lose a lot of weight and look thin in order to enjoy the benefits of weight loss.
Studies[2], [3] have shown that modest amounts of weight loss in overweight and obese people with diabetes improve blood glucose control, and lower the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
Additional benefits of modest weight loss include being less reliant on medications for blood glucose control, as well as improved quality of life and physical functioning.
Aim to lose five to ten percent of your current body weight. It is better to set small realistic weight loss goals that you can achieve than lofty ones.
Even if you are not trying to lose weight, making an effort to eat less and eat more healthily can have long-term beneficial health effects[2].
Below is a list of ideas to lose weight and maintain weight loss. Discuss them with your healthcare provider and ask for advice on what works best for you.
Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.
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This article was last reviewed on 22 Nov 2023
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