is simple relaxation exercises and other stress management moves can help you gain control over blood sugar levels according to a study conducted at duke university try these proven relaxers more from prevention quicklist 10category 12 ways to avoid diabetestitle get a perfect nights resturl text theres a sleep sweet spot when it comes to preventing diabetes a yale university study of 1709 men found that those who regularly got less than 6 hours of shuteye doubled their diabetes risk those who slept more than 8 hours tripled their odds previous studies have turned up similar findings in women when you sleep too little or too long because of sleep apnea your nervous system stays on alert says lead researcher dr klar yaggi an assistant professor of pulmonary medicine at yale this interferes with hormones that regulate blood sugar a columbia university study found that sleeping less than 5 hours also doubled the risk of high blood pressure for a good nights rest avoid caffeine after noon leave work at the office and skip latenight tv oversleeping may be a sign of depression or a treatable sleep disorder so talk with your doctor quicklist 11category 12 ways to avoid diabetestitle keep good companyurl text diabetes is more likely to strike women who live alone women who live alone are 25 times more likely to develop diabetes than women who live with a partner other adults or children according to a study published in diabetes care researchers examined what role household status played in the progression of impaired glucose tolerance to diabetes among 461 women ages 50 to 64 and found higher risk among women living alone but dont freak out if you live solo lifestyle factors could explain this finding women who lived alone were also more likely to smoke and less likely to have healthy dietary habits or consume alcohol quicklist 12category 12 ways to avoid diabetestitle have a blood testurl text many diabetes symptoms are silent but a simple blood test can reveal whether sugar levels put you at risk for the condition people with prediabetes slightly elevated blood sugar levels between 100 and 125 mgdl often develop a fullblown case within 10 years knowing your blood sugar levels are a little high can put you on a track to steadying them with simple diet and exercise changes before diabetes sets in and medications may be necessary everyone 45 and older should have their blood sugar levels tested younger people who have risk factors such as being overweight a family history and high cholesterol and blood pressure should ask a doctor about getting tested sooner if results are normal get tested again within 3 years if you have prediabetes blood sugar should be tested again in 1 to 2 years more from prevention