I have been trying the Weight Watchers plan to lose weight. Is this a good plan to follow? I am not having much success with it, and am having problems with my blood sugars.
Q: I have been trying the Weight Watchers plan to lose weight. Is this a good plan to follow? I am not having much success with it, and am having problems with my blood sugars.
Weight Watchers is a weight loss method based on changing eating habits, watching portion sizes of high-calorie foods, and providing peer support.
Although there have been several Weight Watchers plans since its launch in the 1960s, the most recent one, Smart Points, was introduced in 2015. On the Smart Points plan, no foods are off limits, but foods higher in sugar or saturated fat have more points, whereas lean proteins have fewer points. Most fruits and vegetables have zero points.
The Weight Watchers approach may work for some people. However, for those with diabetes who want to optimize blood sugar control in addition to losing weight, it probably isn't the best choice. Consuming large amounts of fruit can raise blood sugar to dangerously high levels and also make losing weight more difficult. And discouraging the consumption of nutrient-dense, satisfying foods that contain saturated fat but few carbs, such as meat and cheese, can be counterproductive to achieving better blood sugar control and a healthy weight.
Generally speaking, people with diabetes will get the best results by following a diet that minimizes foods high in carbohydrates and encourages foods that promote satiety, including a variety of protein and fat sources.
Answered By dLife Expert: Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE
Certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian living in Southern California.
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