If the diabetes is still in its early stages, the diabetes treatment prescribed by doctor is focused on losing weight, changing the diet and engaging in some form of regular exercise. Doctors often advise their patients who are in the early diabetes stage to go on a diet that is low in sugar and carbohydrates. However, if this (combination of weight loss, exercise and diet) fails to reduce blood sugar levels, doctors would next prescribe oral medication to stimulate the production of insulin.

While controlling their patients' condition is every doctor's primary concern, there are methods that patients can do themselves in order to manage the disease on their own.

Patients should keep an eye on their blood sugar level on a regular basis. Blood glucose monitoring is an important part of any treatment, and patients need to take responsibility for this task. This ensures that the option chosen by the doctor is working properly. Patients should keep their doctors updated on their blood sugar levels so that doctors can evaluate the results and adjust dosage or even modify if necessary.

Exercising is something patients need to do if they want to be able to manage their condition. It helps patients metabolize the glucose in the body much more quickly. Not only that, exercise promotes better weight control, as well as increase the levels of HDL or the good cholesterol.

Stress reduction is also vital. Thus, patients need to try reduce their stress. It is not possible to eliminate stress completely (and there are certain stresses that are actually good) so patients need to learn how to properly deal with stress.

Patients also need to change their diet. A treatment won't work if patients do not make diet changes, such as reducing the amount of processed foods and sugar that they consume. This is especially true for patients who will be taking medication. By not following a healthy diet, the medication they are taking is useless. Most medications stimulate the production of insulin. The dosage depends on patients' blood sugar levels during testing. So if patients continue to eat the same diet (instead of a healthy one that is low in sugar and carbohydrates) while they are undergoing treatment, their medication won't work since there would always be a lot more glucose in their bloodstream.

Patients also need to avoid consuming simple carbohydrates and refined foods. These types of foods are easily broken down by the body into sugar, which means the sugar enters the bloodstream much more quickly. Instead, patients should consume complex carbohydrates as they break down slower, which means they are absorbed by the body much more safely. Diabetics should also make sure to eat less of foods that contain saturated fat.