Studies have shown that lifestyle changes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in women at risk of developing the disease. Some of the most common strategies include:

• Eating a healthy diet, especially one that is low in fat and sugar and high in fiber
  
  
• Losing excess weight and maintaining a healthy weight
  
  
• Exercising regularly, to help lower glucose (blood sugar) levels and help the body use insulin
  
  
• Controlling cholesterol levels

• Controlling high blood pressure (hypertension)
  
  
• Limiting alcohol intake
  
  
• Quitting smoking or not starting to smoke

It may also help to get adequate sleep and control stress.

In addition, a major federal research project has found that breastfeeding, besides its other health benefits for the woman and baby, can help prevent diabetes in the mother. Data for about 157,000 women from the Nurses' Health Study and the Nurses' Health Study II showed that the longer participants breastfed, the more they reduced their risk of becoming diabetic. Breastfeeding may also reduce the child's risk of childhood obesity and diabetes.