Type 2 diabetes and weight loss: what you need to know

It's estimated that around 1 in every 10 people in the UK will have type 2 diabetes by 2030.

One of the key risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes is being overweight. And once type 2 diabetes develops, other areas of health can be compromised such as heart health, kidney health and vision. To explain what it actually means to have type 2 diabetes, we've put together a handy little infographic to explain.

What about reversing my condition?

There is evidence to suggest losing weight can actually reverse type 2 diabetes in some cases. It's believed that fat stored around the liver and pancreas can affect the progression of diabetes, so losing this fat by losing weight may reverse the effects. Remission is more likely to happen soon after your diagnosis, however there are cases of diabetes remission after 25 years with the condition.

Of course, prevention is better than cure, so particularly if you've been diagnosed with prediabetes, where your blood sugar is higher than normal and bordering on diabetic levels, weight loss has a higher success rate in reversing your blood sugar levels to within normal range.

If you have a goal to lose weight, the Nutracheck app can help. Start by setting yourself a 5% weight loss target and follow the personal calorie allowance that's been set for you. When you reach your goal, set yourself another 5% target. Breaking your weight loss goal into small steps like this will ensure you are on track to lose weight at a healthy and sustainable rate. You can also monitor your nutrient intakes to stay on top of fibre and sugar – two important nutrients to pay attention to when managing type 2 diabetes.