Diabetics can lead a completely normal and active life. The only requirement is that they learn how to manage their diabetes.

• Increased blood glucose levels can be controlled with oral antidiabetic drugs that increase insulin production in the pancreas and/or improve the ability of the body's cells to respond to insulin.
• In the later stages of type 2 diabetes, use of insulin may become essential.
• In patients who are overweight or do not take sufficient exercise, appropriate lifestyle changes can have a significant positive impact on the disease. Effective weight control is therefore very important in the long-term management of type 2 diabetes. Moderate weight loss of 5 to 10% of body weight can improve blood glucose levels and the responsiveness of the body to insulin.