Put together a good health care team consisting of:

--General Practitioner
--Bodywork Nutritional Advice
--Dentist/Hygienist

If appropriate, include an:

--Endocrinologist/Internist
--Podiatrist
--Ophthalmologist
--Other specialists

Know your numbers for:

--Blood pressure Cholesterol
--Fasting blood glucose
--Post-prandial blood glucose
--Hemoglobin A1C
--Others as needed

Insist on respectful health care treatment:

--Interview, evaluate, and if necessary educate each new doctor, and accept no weight bigotry.
--Listen to nutritional advice, but don't accept diet lectures. --Expect to be informed and educated on your condition, treatment, options, etc.
--Expect the same treatment a thin person would receive for the same condition.

If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, manage your treatment:

--Monitor your condition (e.g. blood sugar) and learn your own patterns.
--Adjust medications in consultation with your doctor.
--Get to know how your body reacts to specific foods, timing of medication, meals, exercise, etc.

Stay as healthy as possible:

--Get enough sleep, and don't let yourself get over-tired.
--Eat when you're hungry--don't go without food for long periods.
--Drink plenty of fluids. Coffee, milk, and alcohol do not count as fluids.
--If you smoke or chew tobacco, quit.
--Use sunscreen and avoid long exposure to the sun.
--Avoid public places in flu season, and stay home when you're sick.
--Sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve, not into your hand.
--Wash your hands often.
--Always wear a seat belt in the car.
--Do a safety check in your house and do what you need to prevent falls and other accidents.

Eat well:

--Take all nutritional advice "with a grain of salt".
--Pay attention to your body's appetites, needs, demands, etc.
--Eat a variety of foods.
--If you tend to eat mostly carbohydrates, eat more protein.
--Make sure you eat some fruits and vegetables.
--Aim for 5 servings a day.
--Add more whole grains to your diet.
--Find a comfortable level of food management to fit your needs.
--Try out different approaches, and use what works for you.

Stay active:

--Experiment until you find a way of moving that feels good.
--Design yourself a movement program that fits your lifestyle.
--Find a balance between stretching, strengthening, stamina-building, and stress-reduction.

Give yourself a break:

--Find a comfortable level of self-care somewhere between total obsession and total denial.
--Recognize that your comfortable level may change.
--Make compromises: be scrupulous in one area so you can avoid an area that feels too difficult.
--Let yourself have time off from taking care of yourself if you need it.
--Avoid self-judgments-they're not good for your health!

Medical Care for Obese Patients: Advice for Health Care Professionals