Can Diabetes Be Prevented or Cured?

Is there anything that an obese patient can do to prevent or possibly cure themselves of diabetes?

Yes according to a study presented at the International Congress of Endocrinology/European Congress of Endocrinology in Florence, Italy.

This study states that lowering your BMI by 5 units can significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetes. And severely obese patients can possibly rid themselves of diabetes by reducing their weight enough to reduce their BMI by 5 units.

What is BMI?

BMI is an acronym that stands for Body Mass Index.

It is a correlation based on your weight and height to identify potential weight related health problems. The BMI number is categorized as

1. Severly Underweight if it is less than 16.4
2. Underweight if it is from 16.5 to 18.4
3. Normal if it is from 18.5 to 24.9
4. Overweight if it is from 25 to 29.9
5. Obese Class I if it is from 30 to 34.9
6. Obese Class II if it is from 35 to 39.9 and
7. Obese Class III if it is 40 and over.

Results of the Study

For patients who did not lose weight during the 2 and 10 year follow-up, the diabetes incidence rates were

1. 6.5% for patients with a BMI less than 35
2. 7.7% for patients with a BMI between 35 and 40
3. and 9.3% for patients with a BMI greater than 40.

For patients who lost at least 5 BMI units, the diabetes incidence rates were

1. 2.4% for patients with a BMI between 35 and 40
2. 2% for patients with a BMI between 40 and 45 and 
3. 3.4% for patients with a BMI greater than 45.

As you can see, lowering your weight enough to reduce your BMI by 5 units can significantly reduce the likelihood that you will develop diabetes.

How Much Weight Represents 5 BMI Units?

Losing 5 BMI units is not easy, but it can be accomplished. However, it does take dedication by the patient to change their lifestyle significantly for the rest of their lives. With the help of your doctor, dietician or support group, it can be done.

The average man in the US is 5' 10", and the average women in the US is 5' 5". For the average obese man to reduce his BMI by 5 units, he would have to lose 35 pounds. The average obese women would have to lose 31 pounds.

5 Habits of People Who Have Succeeded at Long-Term Weight Loss

1. They have modified their food intake in some way to lose weight. Basically, they eat fewer calories. On average, they eat about 1400 calories each day.
2. They increased their physical activity with walking being their favorite activity. On average, they exercise 1 hour a day.
3. They eat breakfast everyday. Research has shown that a protein rich breakfast will help you snack less often.
4. They weigh themselves at least once a week. Actually, research at the University of Minnesota determined that people who weighted themselves every day lost twice as much weight as people who weighted themselves less often.
5. They watch less than 10 hours of TV each week. This helps them to stay more physically and socially active.

In addition, these successful weight losers limited their fast food intake, cut back on sugars and sweets, and ate more fruits and vegetables.

It does take a lot of work and a dedication to completely change your lifestyle to reduce your weight by 5 BMI units, but research has shown that it is worth the effort to drastically improve your health and fitness and be free of diabetes for life.

Charles A. Pennison

References:

ScienceDaily: " Losing Weight When Obese Can Prevent or Cure Diabetes "
Disabled World: " Height Chart of Men and Women in Different Countries "
Exercise-to-a-healthier-life: " BMI Calculator "
Health and Fitness Articles Blog: " 5 Important Habits of People Who Have Lost Weight and Kept It Off For Over a Year "