Diabetes is one of the most prevalent causes of concern in the world of health and nutrition. Type-2 diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to respond to the insulin produced. Type-2 diabetes has been linked to increased cardiovascular risk as well. According to a latest study, losing a little weight may prove beneficial for Type-2 diabetes patients suffering from cardiovascular problems.
Diabetic patients are often prescribed with dietary adjustments with the purpose of stabilising blood sugar levels and to ensure healthy weight management. Weight fluctuations in diabetics may take their heart health for a toll. If they happen to lose a little weight, they are more likely to keep heart-related ailments at bay.
The researchers from Tufts University in Boston, MA, and the University of Connecticut in Storrs, revealed what will happen if a person gains back those extra kilos, reported Medical News Today. The researchers said that maintaining weight after losing it is equally vital when it comes to keeping cardiovascular problems away. The results were published in the 'Journal of the American Heart Association'.
For the study, the researchers examined data of around 1,561 individuals suffering from Type-2 diabetes. The participants were put through a programme that included a handful of healthy eating practices and increased physical activity.
It was found that the participants who regained all or some lost weight increased their risk of developing heart diseases again.
"Our findings suggest that in addition to focusing on weight loss, increased emphasis should be placed on the importance of maintaining the weight loss over the long term," said senior author Prof. Alice Lichtenstein.
But the researchers from the University of Cambridge, in the United Kingdom discovered if it is possible to send Type-2 diabetes into complete remission with the help of a less demanding dietary intervention, instead of weight loss surgery. The study was published in the journal of 'Diabetic Medicine.
"We've known for some time now that it's possible to send diabetes into remission using fairly drastic measures, such as intensive weight loss programs and extreme calorie restriction," noted the first author of the study Hajira Dambha-Miller, Ph.D.
"These interventions can be very challenging to individuals and difficult to achieve," she added.
The study's senior author, Prof. Simon Griffin emphasised on the importance of consistent dietary and lifestyle interventions in managing or even reversing diabetes.
"This reinforces the importance of managing one's weight, which can be achieved through changes in diet and increasing physical activity. Type-2 diabetes, while a chronic disease, can lead to significant complications, but as our study shows, can be controlled and even reversed," he said.
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