DiabetesPreventive careGeneral wellness

9 ways to lower your risk of diabetes

Find out how you can help prevent diabetes and prediabetes by making simple lifestyle changes.


LearnHormone healthDiabetes9 ways to lower your risk of diabetes
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Put meat in its place
Keep the fiber coming
Skip processed meats
Move your body
Consider a different kind of snack
Reduce stress
Cut down on sugar

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Finding out you have borderline diabetes or prediabetes can be distressing. (Prediabetes means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not quite high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes.)

There's an upside to receiving this news, though: It means there's time to make changes to your lifestyle to improve your blood sugar levels. Adopting new, healthier habits can help keep you from developing type 2 diabetes. That means you can avoid its complications, which may include heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, and more. Even small changes can make a big difference in your health. Here’s how to get started.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Preventi... + 15
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prediabetes – Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Page last reviewed December 30, 2022.
  2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Preventing Diabetes Problems.  Accessed on April 21, 2023.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes: Fiber: The Carb That Helps You Manage Diabetes. Last reviewed June 20, 2022.
  4. Banaszak M, Górna I, Przysławski J. Non-Pharmacological Treatments for Insulin Resistance: Effective Intervention of Plant-Based Diets-A Critical Review. Nutrients. 2022 Mar 27;14(7):1400.
  5. Gołąbek KD, Regulska-Ilow B. Dietary support in insulin resistance: An overview of current scientific reports. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2019 Nov;28(11):1577-1585.
  6. American Diabetes Association. Myths about Diabetes. Accessed on April 21, 2023.
  7. Adeva-Andany MM, González-Lucán M, Fernández-Fernández C, et al. Effect of diet composition on insulin sensitivity in humans. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2019 Oct;33:29-38.
  8. Chen Z, Zuurmond MG, van der Schaft N, et al. Plant versus animal based diets and insulin resistance, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: the Rotterdam Study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2018 Sep;33(9):883-893.
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Your Way to Preventing Type 2 Diabetes. Accessed on April 21, 2023.
  10. Qian F, Riddle MC, Wylie-Rosett J, et al. Red and Processed Meats and Health Risks: How Strong Is the Evidence? Diabetes Care. 2020 Feb;43(2):265-271.
  11. World Health Organization. Q&A – Cancer: Carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat. October 26, 2015.
  12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How much physical activity do adults need? Page last reviewed June 2, 2022.
  13. American Diabetes Association. Blood Glucose and Exercise. Accessed July 10, 2023.
  14. Nishi SK, Viguiliouk E, Kendall CWC, et al. Nuts in the Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes. Nutrients. 2023 Feb 9;15(4):878.
  15. US Department of Agriculture. Nuts, walnuts, English. April 1, 2019.
  16. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The Impact of Poor Sleep on Type 2 Diabetes. March 17, 2021.
Written by Michael Gollust.
Medically reviewed by Megan Burke, MD.October, 2025
Updated onAugust, 2026
Written by Michael Gollust.
Medically reviewed by Megan Burke, MD.October, 2025
Updated onAugust, 2026
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