The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) proved that even modest weight loss can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in overweight at-risk adults. But what about people who already have the disease? The news is good for you as well. Weight loss can reduce your need for medication and insulin, improve your cardiovascular health, and, best of all, it will make you feel good about yourself.

Weight and Insulin Resistance

Precisely how excess fat promotes insulin resistance isn't yet entirely clear, but it is thought that certain proteins and/or enzymes released by stored fat act on muscle and liver cells to impair the way that they “read” insulin signals to process glucose.

In addition, research has found that the “apple-shaped” body (central abdominal obesity) associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes contains fat with unique properties. Specifically, this type of visceral abdominal fat sheds more free fatty acids, which can elevate triglyceride levels, and is associated with higher insulin levels that promote further fat storage.

Paring down your abdominal fat has the double benefit of both increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes.