Take a walk
Regular exercise is important way of managing type 2 diabetes and controlling weight, but it doesn't have to be vigorous or joint- pounding to count. Just getting up off the couch and standing every so often or taking a walk can also improve blood sugar control, according to a study in Diabetologia. "A 15-minute walk in the morning and a 10-minute walk during your lunch break will help with diabetes control," Dr. Aloi says. "Aim for 25 minutes of moderate aerobic activity five days a week, and build from there," he adds. The American Diabetes Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week and two sessions of resistance exercise, as a combination of aerobic and resistance training can improve blood sugar levels as well as other markers of diabetes disease activity, according to a study in the July 2015 issue of the Journal of Physical Therapy Science. As a bonus, this same physical activity program improved heart disease risk factors, and diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease.