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It has become common knowledge that being overweight can have a negative effect on a person’s health.  It has been stated in the results of many tests and studies that being overweight creates a strain on the cardiovascular system, often increasing blood pressure, creating risk for heart disease and heart attacks, increasing risk of strokes and increasing the risk of or severity of diabetes.

There is good news about being overweight and being diagnosed with diabetes.  Researchers have found that if a person who is overweight has been diagnosed with diabetes, they can improve their health by losing weight.  This has not been a common theory, and it has not been researched as much as other ways to control diabetes.

The fact that diabetes can be controlled – or even reversed – through weight loss is exciting information.  According to studies, weight loss as soon after diagnosis as possible will create long term health benefits including lower blood pressure and more control of blood sugar.  In addition, weight loss can keep cholesterol levels balanced.

These three factors alone can significantly reduce the possibility of long-term complications of diabetes, such as blindness, kidney damage, heart disease, amputation, and even death. 

The studies also found that the individuals who lost weight soon after diagnosis and regained it later, were still doing well four years into their treatment.  They had hit target blood pressure and blood sugar amounts, and continued to do well, even though the weight had been regained during the four years.  The individuals who were studied ranged in age from 21 to 75.

Researchers are still trying to determine why weight loss as soon after diagnosis is essential and why, once the weight is gained back, individuals still fare much better than those who have not lost weight after diagnosis.  Other follow-up studies are in progress to find the answers.