More help to lose weight
However you manage your diabetes and whomever you look to for support on weight control, it is important to discuss your individual needs with your healthcare team. Your local registered dietitian, practice nurse or diabetes care team will be able to give you specific lifestyle advice, based on your own individual needs. Ask your GP to refer you.
Ongoing support and encouragement will help you maintain your motivation when trying to lose weight, but this support system needs to be suited to you and it should be with someone that you have regular contact with. It could be a friend, your local dietitian, nurse or doctor, a local slimming group or commercially run group, such as Weight Watchers, Slimming World or Cambridge Health & Weight Plan.
If you are following a diet and activity plan:
- Check with your healthcare team before joining and show them a copy of the diet and activity plan.
- Be wary of restrictive and nutritionally unbalanced eating plans.
- Always choose the meal suggestions that include starchy carbohydrates like bread, potatoes, pasta, rice and cereals.
- Do not cut out snacks between meals if you are at risk of going hypo. Check with your healthcare team to see if this applies to you.
- Monitor your diabetes control more closely while you are trying to slim to see if you need to reduce your medication.
- Your diabetes tablets or insulin may need adjusting before you start, or during, the diet and activity plan and as your weight changes.
- Consult your healthcare team if you have any concerns.