I am a 16 year old male who has type 1 diabetes, and I am overall physically fit, but I can’t seem to lose my gut. I am looking for a routine and diet that can help me thin out my stomach. What should I do or where should I look?

Your fitness goal is one shared by many people, both with and without diabetes. If you have not done so recently, consultation with a dietitian who has experience working with adolescents may help to optimize your diet. Your diabetes team can work with you (via blood sugar monitoring and insulin dosage adjustments) to minimize hypoglycemia related to exercise and thereby reduce excessive caloric intake.

There is no one magic approach to diet or exercise so if possible you should seek assistance from a fitness professional who can work one-on-one with you to develop a program designed to your liking, to help you meet your goals. An aerobic fitness program is the basis of any weight loss attempt. In addition, there are many approaches to specifically target and strengthen the abdominal muscles. A fitness professional or personal trainer at your local gym can develop a program with you, which might include a variety of crunches and strength training moves to target both rectus abdominis and the internal and external obliques. Kick-boxing moves focused on the abdomen can be added to your workout. So too can stability balls and/or ab-rollers, if available to you. Seek the input of a fitness professional for personalized instruction.

Good for you (and good for your diabetes!) in following a fitness routine!

DMW