Losing weight with type 2 diabetes is more complicated than eating less and moving more. Blood sugar fluctuations, response to medications, and other underlying health issues can all influence how your body responds to diet and exercise. Stress, sleep quality, and mental health may also quietly affect progress in ways that aren’t always obvious.
Understanding your baseline is an important first step, so your weight loss plan can be tailored to your individual needs and circumstances, says Sherrie Singh-Bryan, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist, member of the Obesity Medicine Association, and certified diabetic care and education specialist at Winn Army Community Hospital in Fort Stewart, Georgia.
It’s equally important to check in regularly with your care team to monitor progress and make adjustments along the way. “We always like to look for areas of optimization,” says Beverly Tchang, MD, an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and member of the governing board for The Obesity Society.
Answer these questions to assess how your daily routine and habits may be affecting your weight loss journey with type 2 diabetes.
