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Living with diabetes takes a 24/7 commitment.

In order to keep your diabetes under control, you must follow your diabetes treatment plan. Careful management of diabetes can reduce your risk of serious — even life-threatening — complications.

An elderly couple walking as part of their commitment to stay healthy with diabetes.

Commitment

No matter what type of diabetes you have, make a commitment to manage it.

Learn all you can about diabetes. Establish a relationship with a diabetes educator and ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it.

Choose healthy foods and maintain a healthy weight.

If you’re overweight, losing just 7% of your body weight can make a significant difference in your blood-sugar control. A healthy diet is one with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, with a limited amount of saturated fat.

Make physical activity part of your daily routine.

Regular exercise can help prevent prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes, or help those who already have diabetes to better control their blood sugar. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise — such as a brisk walk — is recommended. Exercise strengthens bones and the heart, and it reduces stress.

Combining aerobic exercises, such as walking or dancing, on most days, with resistance training, such as weightlifting or yoga, twice a week, often helps control blood sugar more effectively than doing either type of exercise alone.