Maintain a Healthy Weight

The connection between weight and diabetes is well-established. Ideally, you should try to bring your body mass index—a ratio of height to weight—into the healthy category. A BMI of less than 25 is considered healthy.

Find your BMI, using the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute's calculator.

But even losing a small amount of weight—about 10 percent, according to studies—can help you control your disease. To drop pounds or maintain, you'll need to follow a calorie-controlled, balanced diet, such as the one in the Best Life diabetes meal plans. Exercise is also important.