6 bad habits to nix if you have diabetes
Bad health habits can lead to diabetes complications. Get a handle on diabetes with expert tips to keep blood sugar steady, avoid weight gain and more.
Mar 10, 2026
Written byBeth Ward
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Managing a chronic condition like type 2 diabetes requires your full attention. You need to stay on top of what you eat, how much you exercise—even how much you sleep. And with all those “musts” it can be easy to slip up. Falling into bad health habits can lead to dangerous complications, such as kidney and nerve damage, vision problems, heart health issues and more. That's why it’s crucial to be vigilant and not let a little lapse turn into a routine.
Rosemary Thuet, MSN, RN, registered nurse and Director of Education at MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas, lets us in on why getting a handle on these six not-so-healthy habits can help you better manage type 2 diabetes.
Medically reviewed in September 2019.
Sources (5)
- Mayo Clinic. “Nutrition and healthy eating: Carbohydrate-loading diet,” “Late-night eating: OK if you have diabetes?”
- Diabetes Forecast. “What Is a Good Evening Snack?”
- American Diabetes Association. “Understanding diabetes and mental health.”
- Harvard T.H. Chan School for Public Health. “Low-Calorie Sweeteners.”
- Mayo Clinic. “Foods and Sleep."