Diabetes EXPO Offers Weight Management Advice

AURORA, Colo (CBS4) Colorado is considered one of the healthiest states in the nation, but still the state's obesity rate is rising. Obesity can lead to diabetes.

"The reason we have a diabetes epidemic is because we have an obesity epidemic," said Dr. Holly Wyatt, the medical director of the University of Colorado Anschutz Health and Wellness Center.

Wyatt is working to change that. She's co-author of a book called "The State of Slim".

""The State of Slim" was really all the research that I've been doing for the last 18 years," Wyatt explained.

The 16-week program features a weight loss diet and exercise plan, but it also addresses your metabolism, your environment, your routine and your mindset.

"We really work on changing people's lives and the side effect is the weight loss," Wyatt told CBS4.

"The State of Slim" has changed John Hagen's life. He lost 45 pounds on the program. He said that it helped get his "mind right".

"The mind now is all about activity and making responsible choices so I can live a healthy life," Hagen said.

Hagen was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 11 years old. He said that he's always known that managing diabetes is about exercise, diet, and insulin, but he couldn't get the three pieces together at the same time, until now.

"My control is much better, in terms of my daily numbers," Hagen explained.

Wyatt and Hagen will be presenting "The State of Slim" at the American Diabetes Association's EXPO. They'll be encouraging everyone to choose a healthier lifestyle.

"While living with diabetes is a challenge, it's a manageable challenge. And it shouldn't be a crutch or an excuse to not live a healthy life," Hagan said.

"You don't have to be a victim to diabetes or to a lifestyle that you don't want to live. And to give them hope to be really the ultimate version that they want to be," Wyatt added.

The American Diabetes Association EXPO is Saturday, February 7th from 8:30 to 3pm at the Colorado Convention Center.

LINK: American Diabetes Association EXPO Denver 

--Written for CBSDenver.com by Special Projects Producer Libby Smith