ASBP releases weight-loss tips for patients with type 2 diabetes

The American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) today released a set of weight-loss tips that are effective for improving and reversing type 2 diabetes.

Tips for Sustainable Weight Loss When Suffering from Type 2 Diabetes

1. Consult a physician that specializes in obesity medicine – Obesity medicine physicians specialize in treating obesity and associated diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Obesity medicine specialists can assess a patient's health condition and provide ongoing counseling on the ideal comprehensive treatment method that fits the individual's needs, preferences and medical conditions.
2. Establish a regular exercise routine – Patients should consider what activities they enjoy and consult with their physicians about how they can incorporate them into daily life. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 30 or more minutes of exercise on most days.
3. Choose an appropriate nutritional program – Since there is no one diet that works for all overweight and obese people, physicians can help patients develop a dietary plan that accommodates individual food preferences. In 2007, the American Diabetes Association included a low-carbohydrate diet along with controlled calorie diets as appropriate when working with diabetics.
4. Be open to life-long behavior modifications – The long-term nature of obesity requires ongoing counseling from a physician who can provide ideas, actions and therapeutic involvement to prevent regain. Patients should commit to their selected weight-loss strategy, be persistent and be patient.  An intervention plan must be in place when relapse and weight gain occurs.
5. Consider use of obesity treatment medications – Obesity treatment specialists know the potential benefits and risks of using medications to treat obesity and diabetes and are an excellent resource for such patients. Both diabetes and obesity are chronic illnesses; often, medications must be used long-term in their management.

"The key in sustaining weight loss is to identify the right solution for each patient," said Ed J. Hendricks, M.D., of The Center for Weight Management in Roseville, Calif., an obesity medicine specialist with a large obesity treatment practice that includes many overweight diabetics. "There is a large spectrum of choices, from self-help programs to medical therapy to surgery. However, the obesity medicine physician is a patient's best resource in mapping out an effective, comprehensive plan for the individual."

The preceding tips were taken from the ASBP Overweight and Obesity Evaluation Management Guidelines. Obesity is a lifelong problem, and there are several tools for weight loss. Patients are encouraged to partner with physicians who have the expertise to guide them through what treatment plans will be most effective given their individual medical histories and conditions.

SOURCE American Society of Bariatric Physicians