One of the biggest health concerns for people who are considered overweight is Type 2 Diabetes as this is the form of diabetes that is thought to be predominantly brought on by diet and lifestyle.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 Diabetes is a condition that causes the levels of sugar (technically known as glucose) in the blood to become raised to what is considered a high level and potentially dangerous.
It’s caused by a hormone in the body called insulin and is considered to be a lifelong condition that can affect your everyday life such as having to change diet, become more active or even take medication.
It is quite common for Type 2 Diabetes to be caused through a poor diet, inactive lifestyle and generally being overweight, however, if your family has a history of the condition, you are at an increased risk anyway.
What Are the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?
It is often quite difficult to notice in yourself whether or not you have Type 2 Diabetes as it often doesn’t make you feel unwell, but there are a few key symptoms worth looking out for, including:
- Urinating more than usual, particularly at night
- Feeling very thirsty all of the time
- Feel very tired
- Repeatedly getting thrush
- Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
- Blurred vision
Who Is At Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?
As Type 2 Diabetes is often caused by lifestyle and diet, essentially everyone is at risk if they do not live a healthy and balanced life, but there are certain groups considered to be more at risk than others.
There are specific ethnic groups considered to be at higher risk and these include South Asian, Chinese, African Caribbean and Black African and for those of a South Asian origin, the risk of getting this condition is increased if you are over 25.
For white British people, the risk of suffering from Type 2 Diabetes rises when you get over 40 and particularly if you’re overweight. According to the NHS, a healthy BMI is usually between 18.5 and 25 and anything over that is boarding into overweight and obese which is where the risk of Type 2 Diabetes becomes more relevant.
However, for other ethnic groups, such as the ones stated above, a BMI of over 23 dramatically increases your risk.
Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?
If you do get a diagnosis for Type 2 Diabetes and it is due to diet and lifestyle then it is possible to actually put the condition into remission which although means it can return, it is technically being kept at bay.
Diabetes UK highlight that saying you can ‘reverse Type 2 Diabetes’ sounds very permanent and like you can entirely get rid of the condition for good which isn’t technically true, but they are encouraging about the fact that actually putting the condition into remission is possible. So, if your weight does lead to getting diagnosed with this, you needn’t think that is it.
One of the only ways to effectively stop Type 2 Diabetes affecting you is weight loss if you’re overweight. This can be done through a diet and lifestyle change or in some cases, weight loss surgery and the option you take is down to the individual case.
The reason weight loss is one of the key ways of putting Type 2 Diabetes into remission is because a lot of the problem with this condition is storing too much fat in the liver and the pancreas, so to have any chance of ‘getting rid’ of this type of Diabetes, you need to minimise fat in these areas.
So, if you’re worried about Type 2 or have recently been diagnosed with it and weight loss is something you know you need to take seriously, Bodyline Clinic are here to help. Our reliable and sustainable approach to weight loss doesn’t leave results to chance but employs medical weight loss products that guarantee results if used properly in conjunction with diet and lifestyle advice.
Contact your local clinic today for more information on how we can help you avoid Type 2 Diabetes or at least get it into remission!
