Reducing Your Weight — And Your Risk For Diabetes

Now is the time to make healthy decisions about your weight. If you are overweight, you increase your risk of receiving a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. According to the American Diabetes Association, extra body weight also increases your risk of high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, and high blood sugar levels. The doctors at The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine want to raise awareness and help you achieve your health and wellness goals. November is American Diabetes Month.

Here’s how to get started:

Understand the situation
Before you create a diet or exercise plan, we recommend making an appointment with your care team, including your podiatrist. Receive guidance on your current weight and work together to set achievable weight loss goals. As podiatrists, we want to make sure your feet and ankles are in the best shape for exercise. An injury can place you on the sidelines.

Get the right support

While your friends’ support is also important, we’re talking about the shoes you wear while exercising. Speak with your podiatrist to see if custom orthotics would be best for your walking or running activities. Look for shoes with flexibility and support. Be sure to try on shoes later in the day to get the most accurate shoe size.

Don’t ignore foot pain
While you may be seeing results on the scale, exercising should not cause pain. If you begin to experience foot or ankle pain, make an appointment with your podiatrist. An ankle sprain or another condition could be causing your pain.  It’s best to address the discomfort early for a quick treatment that allows you to return to your exercise activities.

It’s exciting to create health and wellness goals. We hope to support you as you choose a lifestyle that can reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. A diagnosis can impact your feet and ankles, too. Call (212) 980-6487 to make an appointment with one of our board-certified doctors. Our office is at 120 E 56th Street, Suite 1150, New York, NY 10022.