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Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control

1. Lose extra weight

Losing weight lowers the risk of diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with prediabetes lose at least 5% to 7% of their body weight to prevent diabetes. More weight loss can turn into even greater benefits.

People in one large study lowered their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by almost 60% over three years. In this study, they lost about 7% of their body weight with changes in physical activity and diet.

Set a weight-loss goal based on your current body weight. Talk to your healthcare professional about reasonable short-term goals and expectations. For example, aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week.