Managing type 2 diabetes with and without medication

A 2020 article reports that healthy lifestyle practices could benefit people with type 2 diabetes or risk factors for the condition. Such measures may delay or prevent its development, as well as manage or potentially put it into remission.

The following healthy lifestyle practices may help reduce blood sugar levels.

1. Pursue weight management

In people with overweight or obesity, significant weight loss may reduce blood sugar back to a healthy range.

Two ways to manage weight are eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly. Individuals can speak with a healthcare professional or dietitian for advice on weight management to help type 2 diabetes.

Learn more about weight loss with type 2 diabetes.

2. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy and balanced diet consists of eating nutritious foods in appropriate portions while avoiding or limiting non-nutritious foods.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that no matter what cuisine a person prefers, eating healthy has certain foods in common. These foods include:

• lean meats or plant-based proteins
• fruits and vegetables
• fewer processed foods
• fewer foods with added sugar

The ADA also suggests using the diabetes plate method. This involves filling a 9-inch plate in a specific way to help manage portion sizes. The plate method involves filling:

• half the plate with nonstarchy vegetables
• a quarter of the plate with protein
• a quarter of the plate with carbohydrates

A 2020 review notes that the Mediterranean diet can also be an effective eating plan for people with type 2 diabetes.

Learn more about what to eat with diabetes.

3. Get regular exercise

Exercise promotes blood sugar management and burns calories, contributing to weight loss. Physical activity also increases insulin sensitivity, which helps blood sugar enter the cells from the bloodstream.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that adults should aim to get 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day on most days, totaling at least 150 minutes each week. Moderate physical activity may include a brisk walk.

The CDC recommends 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, such as running or jogging, each week as an alternative. It also advises adding muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week.

4. Stop smoking

Healthcare professionals advise people to stop smoking to help manage type 2 diabetes. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), people who smoke have a 30–40% higher risk of developing diabetes than people who do not smoke.

Smoking also raises blood sugar temporarily, which poses an additional challenge in maintaining blood sugar levels. This increases the likelihood of a person developing complications of diabetes, such as kidney disease and nerve damage.

Learn more about how smoking affects diabetes.

5. Manage stress

Research from 2019 suggests that although stress does not cause type 2 diabetes, it can worsen it. Stress stimulates the release of hormones that interfere with blood sugar regulation. It also makes a person more likely to engage in practices that make it more difficult to manage blood sugar, such as eating in excess and smoking.

Some ways to reduce stress involve taking a break from electronics and spending time in nature.

Learn more stress reduction strategies.

A person typically only requires medication if lifestyle practices do not help manage and maintain blood sugar levels.

A healthcare professional’s recommendation for medication to help manage type 2 diabetes may depend partly on the individual’s age when they receive a diagnosis. While many older adults with the condition have slightly higher blood sugar levels, this rarely causes issues.

However, healthcare professionals may prescribe medications to people who receive a diagnosis by the age of 40 or 50 years. Even slightly elevated blood sugar levels can eventually lead to health problems, such as damage to nerves or blood vessels. Such damage may result in complications, such as kidney disease. The purpose of medications is to delay or prevent the harmful effects of diabetes.

Learn more about medications for diabetes.

According to the ADA, type 2 diabetes is progressive, making it more difficult to manage over time. Improvements in medical care enable people with the condition to live longer. However, despite the advancements, type 2 diabetes may reduce life expectancy.

The effects of lifestyle practices alone on type 2 diabetes have not undergone extensive research, limiting statistics on the results of such interventions. However, a 2018 clinical trial examined the outcomes of a weight management program on 306 individuals with type 2 diabetes. After 12 months, the authors found that about half of the individuals who participated in the program went into remission.

Researchers cannot quantify the exact improvement that each healthy lifestyle practice may bring at this point. However, the outlook for people with type 2 diabetes who make recommended lifestyle changes is better than those who do not.

Learn about therapies and lifestyle changes for diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that involves high blood sugar, also known as blood glucose.

The pancreas makes insulin, a hormone that enables cells to take glucose from the bloodstream for energy. In type 2 diabetes, the cells do not respond as usual to insulin, called insulin resistance. As a result, the pancreas makes more insulin in an attempt to get glucose inside the cells.

After some time, the pancreas cannot keep up, and blood sugar increases, which leads to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms frequently develop over several years, including:

• tiredness
• increased thirst and urination
• blurry vision
• increased hunger
• slow healing of sores
• numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• weight loss without trying
• dry skin
• more infections than usual

Learn more about the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Experts advise people interested in learning how to manage type 2 diabetes without medications to adopt lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and quitting or avoiding smoking, if necessary.

Weight loss can also help manage blood sugar levels in some people.

Good nutrition is important for a person with type 2 diabetes. Some evidence suggests that a nutritious eating plan, such as the Mediterranean diet, may help manage blood sugar in ways other than weight loss.

A person can speak with a healthcare professional if they have questions about managing type 2 diabetes with or without medication.