6 Weight Loss Tips for Type 2 Diabetes

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Challenges for diabetics

People with type 2 diabetes face unique challenges when trying to lose weight. Some of these issues can pose health risks if not properly addressed:

1. Insulin resistance – People with type 2 diabetes often have insulin resistance, which means that the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin. This can make it more difficult to lose weight, as insulin resistance can cause the body to store fat rather than burn it.
2. Medications – Some medications used to treat type 2 diabetes, such as insulin and sulfonylureas, can cause weight gain.
3. Hormonal imbalances – Type 2 diabetes can cause imbalances in hormones such as leptin and ghrelin, which regulate hunger and appetite. This can make it more difficult to control cravings and hunger.
4. Inflammation – Chronic inflammation, which is common in people with type 2 diabetes, can also contribute to weight gain and make it more difficult to lose weight.
5. Limited physical activity – Some people with type 2 diabetes may have limited physical activity due to complications such as neuropathy (nerve damage) or other health conditions. This can make it harder to burn calories and lose weight.
6. Poor sleep – Poor sleep quality can lead to increased hunger and cravings for unhealthy foods, which can make it harder to lose weight. People with type 2 diabetes may be at higher risk for sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, which can further complicate weight loss efforts.

What diabetics should watch for

Now let’s go over things you should watch for if you’re attempting weight loss as someone with type 2 diabetes.

Mind your medication

Depending on what stage and how long you’ve been diabetic for, you may be taking a number of different types of diabetes medication.

They range from the initial medications given to newer diabetics, like metformin, to the stronger medications given to more severe diabetics, like the insulins.

You may also be taking other medications for medical conditions related to diabetes such as high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

Whenever our type 2 diabetic patients lose weight, their medication almost always needs to be adjusted. The 2 most important medications are ones for blood sugar, and ones for blood pressure.

As you lose weight, firstly, blood sugar control improves, and diabetic medications often have to be carefully reduced to avoid low blood sugar problems.

Secondly, blood pressure decreases, and hypertensive medications often have to be properly lowered or discontinued to prevent low blood pressure problems.

Managing these medications yourself improperly could potentially lead to an unwanted trip to the ER.

Careful management of those medications is probably the number one thing that diabetics should talk to their doctor or healthcare professional about when attempting to lose weight, and find someone willing to work with them to reduce their medication if needed.

Watch your blood sugar

As before, one of the more common side effects that medicated type 2 diabetic patients experience while going on a weight loss diet, is a drop in blood sugar.

It occurs mostly with diabetics medicated with insulin, rather than metformin or sulfonylureas, but is a potentially serious medical issue that needs to be addressed.

Usually it happens when a patient does not take into account the smaller meal they’ve eaten, and injects the same insulin dose as they have in the past.

As a result, the blood sugar level drops below normal, causing symptoms of low blood sugar, things like rapid heartbeats, fatigue, shakiness, sweating, or in worse cases blurred vision and unconsciousness.

We always recommend patients more carefully monitor their blood sugar levels, and prepare for possible low blood sugar episodes by having something sweet on hand, especially if they’re an insulin-dependant diabetic.

Work closely with your doctor about reducing, or changing your insulin dose.

Schedule your meals

Plan and schedule your meals and snacks to more evenly spread out your food intake. For medicated diabetics, I usually recommend 3 small meals per day with 1-2 small snacks only as needed throughout the entire day, rather than intermittent fasting or skipping breakfast.

This helps those with type 2 diabetes more efficiently use the insulin to pull energy from their meals, and helps to prevent long periods of fasting that can potentially cause low blood sugar.

It can also help to reduce compensatory overeating, when you finally do eat, as diabetics sometimes find it harder to control and manage hunger. This would also help control large spikes in blood sugar that typically follow a very large meal.

If you’re taking scheduled medication, you may find it helpful to schedule your food intake around that as well, to prevent any unwanted blood sugar drops.

That being said, there’s no problem with trying intermittent fasting if you’re diabetic, you’ll just need to be more careful.

Consider carb restriction

Almost every dietary protocol we use with diabetics involve some sort of carbohydrate restriction.

Numerous studies have highlighted the effectiveness of low carbohydrate diets in diabetics for losing weight and controlling blood sugar.

There are many styles of carbohydrate controlled diets, from ketogenic, to paleo, to simple low carb, each has their own specifics that are appropriate for certain people.

The amount of carbohydrate you should restrict depends highly on your situation. If you’re a diabetic taking insulin, you’ll have to be much more cautious about carb restriction.

Keep in mind that low carbohydrate diets may not be appropriate for all diabetics, so you’ll need to talk to your doctor about it first.

Consider additional support

Diabetes is a complicated disease, in that it has far reaching damaging effects on the body, from the nervous system, to the cardiovascular system, to the immune system, to name a few.

For long-time diabetics who experience comorbidities related to diabetes, such as hypertension, neuropathies, or kidney damage, I strongly recommend seeking help or therapy for those issues as well.

These comorbidities can easily pose a significant challenge to your weight loss progress.

For example, if you have foot issues from nerve damage, and as a result cannot remain physically active, see a foot doctor and consider nutrients for nerve support.

If you have kidney issues, it may cause increased water weight retention, see your nephrologist.

Metformin use is also known to deplete B12 levels, so if you’ve used it for a long time, consider using B12. 

Track your progress

Recording your progress is a good way to stay on track during your weight loss journey.

For diabetics, In addition to tracking your weight, it’s a good idea to also be tracking your blood sugar levels, when you’re eating, when you’re taking your medications, and their doses.

If you’re taking blood pressure medication, make sure you track your blood pressure as well.

This makes it much easier for you and your doctor to modify medication doses, and deal with any medical issues while you lose weight.

Summary

So in summary, if you’re a diabetic, weight loss has additional challenges, and it will be in your best interest to work with a healthcare professional if you plan to lose weight.

You’ll have to carefully track more than just your weight, and avoid neglecting other health issues related to diabetes. If you need any additional help, feel free to reach out to me personally, as our team safely and effectively treats many diabetics trying to lose weight.

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