Baseline measurements

Whilst not all people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, it is the most common risk factor for the condition. Carrying extra weight, particularly around your waist means that fat can build up around your organs like your liver and pancreas. This can cause insulin resistance which means that your body does not respond as well to insulin.

If you are overweight, losing weight and doing more physical activity can help with insulin resistance. If you take medication or insulin to control your diabetes and continue to lose weight, your healthcare team may need to review your treatment.

Some people may be able to put their diabetes into remission, which means that their blood glucose levels return to a pre-diabetes level without taking any medication. We will cover remission in more detail later in this section.

A good start

If you’re thinking about losing weight, then a good place to start is by speaking to your diabetes care team or GP. They will be able to discuss a weight management plan that will work for you, help set some achievable goals and signpost you to local services.

BMI

Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation that uses your height and weight to see whether your weight is within a healthy range. Your BMI is calculated by your weight in kg, divided by your height, in metres squared:

BMI is a widely used measurement for measuring healthy weight but there can be other factors that need to be considered when using this. Muscle is much denser than fat, so someone that has a lot of muscle can find themselves classified as overweight or obese, even though they are a healthy weight. See the NHS website for more information on BMI.

Healthy BMI range for high-risk ethnicities (e.g. South Asian, African-Caribbean) is slightly different. The classifications for BMI are as follows:

Waist measurement

Along with BMI, your GP will probably measure your waist. This is a good way to check that you’re not carrying too much fat around your stomach and your vital organs, which increases your risk of developing other health problems, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

To measure your waist, watch the video below or follow these steps:

1. Start at the top of your hip bone, then bring the tape measure all the way around your body, level with your belly button.

2. Make sure it’s not too tight and that it’s straight, even at the back. Don’t hold your breath while measuring.

3. Check the number on the tape measure right after you exhale.

The classifications for target waist circumferences are given below, again it’s important to note that these differ slightly for high-risk ethnicities (e.g. South Asian, African-Caribbean).

---

If your weight falls in the overweight or obese range, you might want to think about ways to help with weight management. This would definitely help you achieve better diabetes management.

Have a look at our video below to hear some practical advice on weight management: