• Shed pounds (if you are overweight). Your blood glucose levels will improve if you lose 7% of your body weight (14 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds).
• Lower your LDL and triglyceride cholesterol levels (if they are high).
• Bring your blood pressure down (if it is high).
• Exercising or increasing your physical activity is a good idea. You can reduce your risk of diabetes by exercising for 150 minutes each week (or roughly 20 minutes per day).
• Consume nutritious foods. A diabetes-friendly diet is the same as healthy eating for everyone else: Low-fat, high-fiber grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables; small quantities of low-fat meat and protein foods; and minimal fat, sweets, and alcohol intake