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If you need yet another reason for considering weight loss surgery to lose weight and achieve a healthier lifestyle , how about avoiding type 2 diabetes, a potentially-devastating disease?

There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 2 is a form of diabetes that usually develops in children or young adults but can occur at any age and is insulin-dependent and type 2 usually occurs in people over 40 who are overweight, although it is increasingly occurring in younger people - particularly adolescents - due to a national obesity epidemic. It is non insulin-dependent. While genetics can play a role in getting diabetes, type 2 diabetes is the type that can best be prevented and controlled.

In an article that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a study was conducted on 522 individuals considered prime candidates for developing diabetes because they were overweight, middle-aged and had elevated blood sugar. Of the 522 who reduced their weight by limiting their intake of fat, increasing fiber in their diet and adding physical activity to their routine, 58 percent had a reduction in the development of diabetes. Medically, those percentages are astounding!

These simple lifestyle changes can help you to avoid diabetes and were recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• If you’re overweight, losing weight not only prevents or controls type 2 diabetes, but can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Exercise of any kind helps lower the risk of developing diabetes.
• Eating food such as salads, vegetables, fruits, fish, whole grains, poultry and low fat meats, and beans and avoiding white sugar, honey and molasses. Consider food choices made with whole grains instead of white flour.
• Less than 30 percent of your total calories to come from fat.
• Less than 10 percent of your daily calories should come from saturated fat.
• Include at least 20 grams of fiber each day.

A weight loss surgery is one way to achieve the path to improved health. We’ll be glad to talk to you about your overall lifestyle goals and how we can help you to achieve them. Visit NicholsonClinic.com, find us on Facebook, MySpace, or follow us on Twitter.