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• A drug combination already used in advanced prostate cancer now appears to significantly extend survival when given earlier.
• In males whose cancer returned after surgery or radiation, pairing enzalutamide with leuprolide cut the risk of death by more than 40% compared to standard therapy.
• Doctors and patients must weigh early treatment benefits against side effects and potential overtreatment.

A new drug combination may benefit men whose prostate cancer has returned after primary surgery or radiation therapy.

Pairing enzalutamide, an androgen receptor blocker, with the hormone therapy drug leuprolide significantly improved overall survival in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer.

Although the combination is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for metastatic disease, researchers wanted to know whether using it earlier in the course of the illness could also extend survival.

The phase 3 EMBARK trial previously showed that the drug combination delayed the development of metastatic disease. But whether that benefit translated into longer survival remained unclear — until now.

In a new analysis published on October 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, researchers reported that the combination reduced the risk of death by more than 40%.

“Many patients when they’re diagnosed with prostate cancer will choose to undergo surgery or radiation with the hope that that cures the cancer. Unfortunately, in about a third of those patients the cancer will come back,” said senior study author Stephen Freedland, MD, a urologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

In these patients, treatment options are limited. However, the drug combination of enzalutamide and leuprolide appears to offer some hope.

“We’ve already shown that we’re delaying progression. and that’s great. But are we actually making patients live longer? The answer is unequivocally, yes,” Freedland told Healthline.

Combination drug improved overall survival by 40%

The EMBARK trial, which was funded by Pfizer Astellas Pharma, included more than 1,000 patients across 244 sites in 17 countries. All patients had high risk biochemically recurrent prostate cancer, indicated by a PSA doubling time of nine months or less. 

Prostate cancer recurrence is assessed using a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which measures the level of PSA in a patient’s blood.

High levels of PSA may indicate the presence of cancer before other symptoms appear. Patients whose PSA levels climb rapidly following primary treatment of their cancer are considered high risk of metastasis and ultimately death.

“The shorter it takes for your PSA to double, the more likely that it is just a matter of time before the cancer shows up in the bones,” said Edmund Folefac, MD, a medical oncologist and associate professor at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Folefac wasn’t affiliated with the research.

Trial participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: leuprolide alone, enzalutamide alone, or a combination of both drugs.

After eight years of follow-up the overall survival rate of patients taking the combination therapy was 78.9% compared to 69.5% among those taking leuprolide alone, which translates to a 40% lower risk of death.

The survival rate of patients taking enzalutamide alone didn’t differ significantly from those taking leuprolide.

The study reflects a broader shift in prostate cancer care toward treating aggressively earlier in the disease course, rather than waiting for metastasis to be confirmed on imaging such as CT scan.

“We started this therapy with people who have had very little hope, and we are gradually walking ourselves backward and continuing to see that this drug is benefiting patients,” Folefac told Healthline. “In other words, you are using more effective tools earlier and earlier.”

However, such strategies must be weighed against the potential risks of overtreatment and drug side effects.

The most common side effects of patients taking the combination therapy were hot flashes and fatigue. Other symptoms, including gynecomastia and nipple pain were also reported. Bone fractures and falls were more common among those in the combination group than in the other groups.

“Ultimately, we are striving to balance the benefits of treatment with the known harms of therapy,” said Kristen R. Scarpato, MD, an associate professor of urology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Scarpato wasn’t involved in the research.

“Physicians should always be aware of the potential for over treatment in prostate cancer whether a patient has localized or advanced disease. While androgen receptor pathway inhibitors are generally well tolerated, there are important side effects that may limit their use and clinicians should be cautious when prescribing these medications,” she told Healthline.

How will the drug combo therapy affect treatment?

The results of the EMBARK trial are promising, but there are some limitations as well. Notably, the trial did not utilize a form of imaging technology known as PSMA PET scans, which were not part of standard practice at the time.

PSMA PET scans are able to more accurately detect signs of metastatic cancer that may not be picked up by other forms of imaging technology. 

The implication of this limitation is that some participants may in fact have had undetected metastatic cancer, making them a more traditional candidate for the combined drug therapy.

“Whether this is the group that is driving the benefit, we don’t yet know,” Folefac said.

Despite this remaining question, Freedland offers an optimistic vision of prostate cancer care and advances in treatment.

“We’re really revolutionizing the management of prostate cancer convincingly over and over. We’re showing that earlier is better. You have to pick the right patients because if you go early enough, not everyone’s going to die of their cancer,” Freedland said.

• The British Dietetic Association has released dietary guidelines for chronic constipation.
• These guidelines discuss specific foods, supplements, and drinks that may provide relief.
• Dietitians say other lifestyle choices, such as exercise and stress management, may also help.
• If constipation persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor.

Chronic constipation affects more than 1 in 10 people worldwide.

This condition can disrupt daily life with symptoms like infrequent bowel movements, hard stools, and abdominal discomfort. 

While many people turn to dietary changes for relief, past medical guidelines have mostly focused on general advice to eat more fiber or drink enough water, offering little detail on what actually works. 

Now, for the first time, the British Dietetic Association (BDA) has developed comprehensive, evidence-based dietary guidelines for adults with chronic constipation, drawing on results from 75 clinical trials. The guidelines were published on October 13 in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

These recommendations identify specific foods, supplements, and drinks that can improve symptoms — and reveal which popular remedies may not help at all.

Dietary approaches to chronic constipation

To create the new guidelines, the BDA convened a Guideline Steering Committee of seven experts in nutrition, dietetics, gastroenterology, and gut physiology. 

Their goal was to review the totality of scientific evidence on diet-based approaches for chronic idiopathic constipation in otherwise healthy adults. 

Secondary constipation — that’s caused by another condition or medications — was not the focus, though the researchers say the findings may be cautiously applied in those cases.

The team conducted four systematic reviews and meta-analyses, each targeting a different category of dietary intervention:

• fiber supplements
• probiotic and synbiotic supplements
• food, vitamin, and mineral supplements
• foods, drinks, and whole diets

Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included for supplements, to ensure high-quality evidence. 

Other types of intervention trials were also reviewed for foods and drinks, but guideline statements were only made when at least two RCTs supported the finding.

The researchers searched electronic databases between February 2022 and July 2023. 

Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias, resolving any differences with additional team members. 

Additionally, wherever possible, they pooled results in meta-analyses. 

Effect sizes were reported as either risk ratios for binary outcomes (such as the number of people who improved) or mean differences for continuous measures (such as bowel movements per week).

The committee used the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach to rate the quality of evidence — from high to very low — and to determine whether each recommendation should be “strong” or “qualified.”

A strong recommendation meant the intervention was likely to benefit most people with chronic constipation; a qualified recommendation meant benefits might depend more on individual circumstances. 

Statements were finalized through a modified Delphi consensus process, requiring at least 85% agreement among committee members.

New guidelines for constipation relief

The guidelines include 59 dietary recommendation statements — 27 strong and 32 qualified — across supplements, foods, and drinks. 

Evidence quality was often limited: 66% of statements were based on low-quality evidence, 20% on very low, and only 14% on moderate-quality studies.

Fiber supplements

Psyllium stood out as the most consistently effective fiber supplement, increasing the number of people who experienced relief, boosting stool frequency, and softening stool consistency. 

Some other fibers, like polydextrose or inulin mixtures, did not improve treatment response. 

Fiber supplements could increase flatulence, but generally didn’t worsen bloating or abdominal pain.

Probiotics

Overall, probiotics slightly increased the chance of symptom improvement and raised stool frequency, although effects varied widely by strain. 

Bifidobacterium lactis increased stool frequency but not consistency, while multi-strain probiotics slightly softened stools. 

Few strains showed consistent benefits for global symptoms, and no single strain could be recommended across all outcomes. 

Side effects were generally mild and similar to placebo.

Synbiotics

Supplements combining probiotics and prebiotics did not improve stool frequency, stool consistency, or global symptoms, based on the small number of available trials.

Mineral and herbal supplements

Magnesium oxide improved both overall constipation symptoms and quality of life, with moderate-quality evidence. 

Senna, despite its popularity, showed no consistent benefit for treatment response or stool frequency when results from two trials were combined.

Specific foods

Kiwifruit improved certain symptoms, such as reducing abdominal pain and the sensation of incomplete evacuation, and may be preferred over psyllium for people prone to bloating or gas. 

Rye bread increased bowel movements but also slightly worsened overall gastrointestinal symptom scores compared to white bread, though the effect was small and might not matter to all patients.

Drinks

High mineral–content water — particularly those rich in magnesium and sulfate — was more effective than low-mineral water at helping people achieve softer stools or more frequent bowel movements. 

However, it did not improve overall symptoms, abdominal pain, or quality of life compared to low-mineral water. 

The mineral content in the studies was far higher than typical U.S. tap water.

Whole diets

Perhaps surprisingly, the researchers found only one RCT examining a high-fiber diet as a whole, and no qualifying evidence for other dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet. As a result, no recommendations could be made for whole-diet approaches.

Lifestyle recommendations to prevent constipation

Diana Guevara, MPH, RD, a registered dietitian with the Nourish Program at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, said that, to support healthy digestion, you should eat a varied, balanced diet containing both prebiotic and probiotic foods. Guevara wasn’t involved in the new guidelines.

This should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fermented foods, she told Healthline.

“Hydration is also important in supporting healthy digestion because it is used in many processes when your body is breaking down food, and it can also help soften the stool,” Guevara said.

She further recommends getting regular exercise and managing your stress.

Kristine Dilley, RDN, CSOWM, LD, a registered dietitian nutritionist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, additionally noted the benefits of taking your time with your meals. Dilley wasn’t involved in the new guidelines.

“Mindful eating that focuses on slowing down and chewing your food well also helps support digestion,” she said.

Dilley said it’s also important to get adequate sleep.

When to see a doctor about chronic constipation

Of course, there are certain situations when diet and lifestyle changes just aren’t enough, and you need to seek professional evaluation to ensure that there isn’t a deeper concern that needs to be addressed.

“Regular medical attention should be pursued for chronic constipation symptoms that last longer than three weeks,” said Dilley.

You would also want to visit a doctor if you have symptoms such as:

• passing stool two or fewer times per week
• unusual changes in the shape, color, or smell of stools
• frequent stomach discomfort or bloating
• unplanned or unexplained weight loss

Dilley advised seeking emergency care if your constipation is accompanied by:

• vomiting
• severe and constant abdominal pain
• sudden or severe abdominal distention (bloating)
• blood in the stool
• fever

By combining evidence-based dietary strategies with healthy lifestyle habits, most people with chronic constipation can find meaningful relief. However, don’t hesitate to seek professional care if needed.

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• Grammy-winning R&B artist D’Angelo has died at 51 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer.
• His death spotlights a disease that is often diagnosed late, carries poor survival rates, and is increasingly affecting younger adults.
• Experts say knowing your family history, managing lifestyle risks, and paying attention to subtle symptoms are key to early detection and prevention.

Grammy-winning R&B singer D’Angelo died on October 14 at age 51 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer.

“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” his family confirmed in a public statement. “After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home.”

D’Angelo left an indelible mark on music with his pioneering neo-soul sound and collaborations with high-profile artists such as Jay-Z, Common, and Lauryn Hill.

He released his debut album, “Brown Sugar,” in 1995 to immediate acclaim. The record reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart, went platinum later that year, and earned several Grammy nominations.

However, it was his sophomore release, “Voodoo,” in 2000 that propelled his music career into the stratosphere. The album debuted at No. 1 on both Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart and the Billboard 200. He won two Grammys: Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”

The music video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” cemented D’Angelo’s reputation as a sex symbol, albeit a reluctant one, in the cultural zeitgeist. The intimate portrayal featured the singer, famously stripped down to his waist, singing directly into the camera.

D’Angelo retreated from the spotlight after releasing Voodoo and publicly struggled with drugs and alcohol. In 2005, he was involved in a serious car crash that left him in critical condition.

More than a decade later, his third and final album, “Black Messiah” (2014), reaffirmed his enduring appeal with another No. 1 debut on the R&B chart and a Grammy for Best R&B Album.

Again, in his own enigmatic fashion, D’Angelo made only a few public appearances in the following years. 

The singer was announced as a headliner for the 2025 Roots Picnic festival, but his appearance was canceled, citing an “unforeseen medical delay.”

Although details are sparse about D’Angelo’s health in the months leading up to his death, he had apparently been hospitalized for months and in hospice for two weeks, People reported.

D’Angelo’s passing is a stark reminder of the devastating effects of pancreatic cancer, one of the most deadly and least preventable forms of the disease, on a brilliant talent whose life was cut short.

“We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind,” his family said.

Pancreatic cancer: Deadly and rarely preventable

Pancreatic cancer affects the pancreas, a small organ that produces insulin and plays an essential role in digestion, among other functions. The size and location of the pancreas in the body make it more difficult to detect cancer.

Although pancreatic cancer makes up only about 3% of cancer diagnoses each year in the United States, it is responsible for 7% of cancer deaths.

Nearly 70,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and roughly 52,000 will die of the disease in 2025, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, with an aggressive tumor and dismal outcomes. We have limited and ineffective treatment options, and a smaller window to make a meaningful impact on the lives of people,” said Ashish Manne, MD, a medical oncologist at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Because pancreatic cancer rarely causes early symptoms, it’s often diagnosed only once the disease is advanced. Even when a patient has symptoms they are often nonspecific and may be mistaken for a number of common illnesses.

“As of yet, there is no good way to identify pancreatic cancer in the early stages, apart from listening to your body and speaking with your doctor if there are new or unusual symptoms,” said Laura Goff, MD, executive medical director for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Cancer Patient Care Center.

Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer include:

• abdominal or lower back pain
• weight loss
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) 
• loss of appetite
• dark urine
• light-colored or greasy stools
• diarrhea
• excessive hunger or thirst
• nausea

At age 51, D’Angelo’s death is an outlier, as pancreatic cancer is most common in adults in the 65 to 75 range. However, many cancers, including pancreatic cancer, have become increasingly prevalent among younger adults.

“Pancreatic cancer diagnosed before the age of 50 is considered uncommon, yet alarmingly, clinicians are beginning to see a growing number of younger patients affected by this disease,” Manne said.

Family history impacts cancer risk

Without effective screening tools for pancreatic cancer, both Manne and Goff emphasized the importance of knowing your family’s cancer history. Certain risk factors, such as smoking and obesity also play a role in the development of pancreatic cancer.

Black individuals have the highest incidence of pancreatic cancer in the United States and are most likely to be diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

“The first step toward lowering one’s risk of pancreatic cancer is understanding personal risk factors. Individuals should review their family history, genetic background, and medical conditions, such as diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, or obesity that may increase their susceptibility,” Manne said.

Inherited genetic risk factors are linked to as much as 10% of all pancreatic cancer cases. If someone in your family has had pancreatic cancer, you may want to consider genetic testing.

“For individuals with a family history of pancreatic cancer or those carrying high risk genetic mutations, screening may involve advanced imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) to detect early changes in the pancreas,” he explained.

For those looking to reduce their risk, lifestyle changes may make a difference. The most effective step you can take to lower your risk of pancreatic cancer is to quit smoking, and if you don’t smoke, avoid exposure altogether.

Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with pancreatitis, a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, so limiting or abstaining from alcohol may help reduce your risk.

Managing your weight or losing weight may also help reduce your risk. People with obesity are 20% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer also occurs more often in people with diabetes, and weight loss can also lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Despite pancreatic cancer’s grim outlook, there is still hope.

“We are doing better with treatments and newer combination chemotherapy. There are emerging targeted therapies that already are making an impact,” said Goff.

For many, however, education about this uncommon but devastating cancer is the first step.

“The more we educate ourselves and others about who is at risk and how to detect it early, the better chance we have to save lives,” said Manne.

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• Researchers say GLP-1 drugs prescribed for weight loss, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, are more effective at reducing heart health risks in people with type 2 diabetes than other types of glucose-lowering medications.
• Experts say this class of medications is effective because it helps with weight loss, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular risk factors in various ways.
• People taking these medications still need to maintain a healthy diet and stick to a regular exercise regimen.

GLP-1 medications commonly prescribed for weight loss, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, significantly reduce cardiovascular risks in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

The research, published on October 15 in JAMA Network Open, concluded that GLP-1RA drugs were significantly more effective in lowering cardiovascular risks than three other types of glucose-lowering medications.

Rita Kalyani, MD, the chief scientific and medical officer at the American Diabetes Association (ADA), said the research touches upon an important medical topic. Kalyani wasn’t involved in the study.

“People with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease or stroke compared to those without diabetes,” she told Healthline. “In addition, type 2 diabetes often co-occurs with obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Thus, cardiovascular prevention is imperative in people with diabetes.”

The researchers focused on three types of heart-related events: nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and cardiovascular death. Here’s what they found.

Comparing diabetes medications and GLP-1 drugs

The researchers looked at more than 240,000 adults with type 2 diabetes from six healthcare delivery systems in the United States. The average age of the participants was 57, and 54% of the subjects were males.

The participants were prescribed one of four classes of glucose-lowering medications between 2014 and 2021. Those drugs included:

• Sulfonylureas — A group of oral medications first used in the 1950s to help treat diabetes by stimulating the pancreas to release more insulin. Brand names include Glucotrol and Diabeta.
• Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4s) — A class of oral medications that help manage type 2 diabetes by increasing the levels of incretin hormones, which stimulate insulin secretion and lower blood sugar levels. Brand names include Januvia and Nesina.
• Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2s) — A group of oral medications that help treat type 2 diabetes by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys. Brand names include Invokana and Jardiance.
• Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) — A group of injectable medications used to treat type 2 diabetes whose primary purpose is helping people lose weight. They include medications with the active ingredient semaglutide, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as medications with the active ingredient tirzepatide like Zepbound and Mounjaro.

Metformin, a widely used oral medication that helps manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, was not studied in this particular research analysis.

Weight loss drugs bolster cardiovascular health

In their study, researchers noted that major cardiovascular adverse events are “the leading cause of excess mortality in adults with type 2 diabetes.”

The goal of their study was to determine which medications are most beneficial in lowering the risk of these events.

In their findings, they reported that cardiovascular event risk “varied significantly by medication class, with most protection achieved with sustained treatment with GLP-1RAs followed by SGLT2s, sulfonylureas, and DPP4s.”

Cheng-Han Chen, MD, an interventional cardiologist and the medical director of the Structural Heart Program at Saddleback Medical Center in California, said the study reaffirms the effectiveness of these weight loss drugs.

“These results add to our growing body of knowledge on the significant benefits that this class of medications has on our treatment of cardiometabolic conditions and cardiovascular disease,” Chen, who wasn’t involved in the study, told Healthline.

Marilyn Tan, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at Stanford University in California, agreed, saying a wide array of research has shown GLP-1RA drugs to be beneficial for heart health. Tan was likewise not involved in the study.

“All of the studies were slightly different in design and participant demographics, but overall, these newer medications have been promising for not only glucose control but also cardiovascular risk reduction and kidney protection, among other benefits,” she told Healthline.

Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and the medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, noted that the benefits may help some people more than others. Ali wasn’t involved in the study.

“The overall takeaway is that, given the right patient, the GLP1-RA may provide the most effective treatment to lower cardiovascular risk,” Ali told Healthline. “The most benefit seemed to be in those patients that were older than 65 and had more medical issues.”

How do GLP-1RAs improve heart health?

Experts say the effectiveness of GLP-1RA drugs may be due to the variety of ways in which they work.

“GLP-1RAs work by mimicking a natural hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite, leading to weight loss, improved glucose control, and better blood pressure and cholesterol levels,” Katherine DiPalo, PharmD, an associate professor of medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, told Healthline. DiPalo wasn’t involved in the study.

“They may also have direct protective effects on the blood vessels and heart. Newer agents, such as tirzepatide, combine GLP-1 and GIP receptor activity, resulting in even greater weight loss and metabolic benefits,” added DiPalo, who was the co-author of an American Heart Association (AHA) statement on cardiovascular risk factors in adults with type 2 diabetes.

“There are GLP1 receptors all over the body, including in the heart,” Tan added. “The benefit of GLP-1 agonists seems to be multifactorial, including direct GLP-1 effects, improved glucose control, but also notably, weight loss.”

She added that other research has shown GLP-1RA drugs to be beneficial in reducing cardiovascular risks in people with obesity who don’t have diabetes.

However, all these experts did caution there can be serious side effects to the GLP-1RA medications.

“Tolerability (GI side effects, etc), excessive weight loss (not all patients with diabetes need to or want to lose weight), potential loss of muscle mass, and cost remain limiting factors with GLP-1 receptor agonists,” Tan said.

“Like all medications, there are side effects,” Ali added. “Most commonly, patients experience GI type side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, or constipation; however, more serious side effects such as inflammation of the pancreas and gallbladder have been seen.  Also, people with certain familial types of thyroid cancer should not take these medications.”

Health risks of type 2 diabetes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 38 million people in the United States have diabetes. More than 90% of them have type 2 diabetes. The remainder have type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is typically diagnosed in people 45 years and older, but the CDC reports that diagnoses are rising in children, teens, and young adults.

It is also more common in Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander, and Asian American populations.

Type 2 diabetes generally occurs when the body has difficulty managing blood sugar levels due to an inability to properly use the hormone insulin.

Risk factors include:

• obesity
• lack of physical exercise
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol levels
• high triglyceride levels

If untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications such as cardiovascular disease as well as eye disease, nerve damage, kidney disease, hearing damage, and an increased risk of stroke.

Ali noted that the ramifications of diabetes make it vital that people with the condition get treated.

“The goal with diabetes treatment is to maintain blood glucose in a healthy range,” he said.

“Medications are an important part of treatment; however, a healthy diet and lifestyle are also very important. If a patient takes medications but does not eat the right foods and leads an unhealthy lifestyle, they will likely see progression of the diabetes and all the complications associated with this severe disease.”

Tips to maintain good heart health

The American Heart Association (AHA) has developed a list of eight lifestyle choices called Life’s Essential 8 that can help improve cardiovascular health. These include:

• eating better
• being more active
• quitting tobacco
• getting healthy sleep
• managing weight
• controlling cholesterol
• managing blood sugar
• managing blood pressure

Experts say maintaining good cardiovascular health as well as overall health is crucial for people with diabetes.

“It is important for people with type 2 diabetes to maintain good health by eating a balanced diet low in saturated fat and excess carbohydrates, getting regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, getting regular medical check-ups, getting an adequate amount of quality sleep, managing their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and controlling their stress levels,” said Chen.

“[Treatment] must be done in conjunction with other lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, interrupting sedentary time, improved sleep, stress reduction, avoiding excessive carbohydrates, [and] avoiding excess sugar,” added Tan.