It's a little early for resolutions, but it's never too late to embrace a healthy lifestyle, especially if you have type 2 diabetes. Weight loss and fitness might not be the first thing on everybody's mind during the holidays, but they're still important for good diabetes management.

Here's what to know about weight loss and exercise...

• Diabetes Weight Loss Tips

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Managing your type 2 diabetes can be trying on the best of days, but when the holidays come around, the best of diet intentions can go out the window. Here's how to navigate your way through the cookies, parties, and festivities without losing control of your blood sugar levels.

• Type 2 Diabetes and Healthy Holiday Food

More from your diabetes guide...

• Strategies for Healthy Holiday Eating
• Healthy Eating After the Holidays

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According to a press release, a Loyola University Health System study has shown that 1 in 5 people with type 2 diabetes is morbidly obese.

One hundred or more pounds overweight is considered morbidly obese. This is also a BMI of 40 or above. The study looked at data from the NHANES study which spans 30 years. During that time, the incidence of morbid obesity has risen 141 percent in people with type 2 diabetes.

The researchers offer these reasons for the increase in obesity...

• Inexpensive food
• Larger portion sizes
• Increase in consumption of sugary soda

Read about the study here...

• Diabetics Show Alarming Iincrease In Morbid Obesity

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A study from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine shows that one of the genes that may be responsible for causing type 2 diabetes may also be linked to the risk of childhood obesity

According to a press release, study leader Struan F.A. Grant, Ph.D., a researcher and associate director of the Center for Applied Genomics of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia says, "This finding suggests that there may be genetic activity during childhood that lays the foundation for the later development of type 2 diabetes."

Obesity is thought to be a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 typically occurs in adults over 40, although in recent years the incidence of type 2 diabetes is affecting younger adults and even kids. More studies on genes associated with type 2 diabetes are needed, but if the same genes that cause diabetes also cause childhood obesity, then it may someday be possible to prevent diabetes, by treating obesity in kids.

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