Diabetes
In 2010, 1.9 million U.S. adults were newly diagnosed with diabetes. A primary care physician answers your questions about this widespread disease.
Question: Can I control my type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise only?
Answer: Diet and exercise are lifestyle changes that effectively help treat type 2 diabetes. These lifestyle changes can control the disease and lower or even eliminate the need for medicine in some cases.
People with diabetes, prediabetes and the general adult public should aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity most days. Walking, gardening, doing yard work, swimming, or cleaning house all count—anything that increases your heart rate and keeps it up, and causes you to break a light sweat. The Diabetes Prevention Program—a large study done in people with prediabetes— showed that 150 minutes of physical activity a week (30 minutes, five times a week) helped prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In this study, people also lost 10 to 20 pounds by making changes in their eating habits.
Exercise is still necessary, even if you aren’t able to control your diabetes with diet and/or exercise alone. Regular exercise will help keep weight under control and minimize doses of medicines needed.