If you have diabetes—or are at high risk for it—your doctor has probably suggested losing weight. You’re not alone. Over 80% of people with diabetes are overweight. Dropping pounds can help reverse it, especially if you lose the abdominal fat that fuels diabetes. And it doesn’t take an over-the-top, Biggest-Loser type of weight change to get results. In one study, people who lost just 9% of their body weight (18 pounds if you now weigh 200) reduced their blood sugar levels significantly, needed less medication and said they had more energy. The catch? Many oral diabetes medications cause weight gain. If you’re trying to slim down, ask your doctor if a medication switch could help you.

• Target deep belly fat with a healthy, calorie-controlled diet plus exercise. Aim for a waist less than 35 inches for women, 40 for men.
• Drugs that can cause weight gain include rosiglitazone (Avandia), pioglitazone (Actos), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol) and glyburide (Diabeta).
• Slimmer you, fatter wallet. Every 1% drop in weight (that’s 1.75 pounds if you weigh 175) can save a person with diabetes $256 in healthcare costs per year.
• Keep track of what you eat and how much you exercise. In one study, people who kept a food diary lost 50% more weight than those who didn’t.
• Unintentional weight loss? Call your doctor. Losing pounds without trying could be a sign of dangerously high blood sugar, dehydration and muscle break-down.

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