People with diabetes need to develop an understanding that when it comes to treatment, you can’t just think of medications; lifestyle treatments such as controlled diet and sensible exercise are also a form of treatment, and one of the most cost-effective with the fewest side effects. Recent reports from abroad that maintaining a healthy diet, increasing physical activity and losing excess weight can help control type 2 diabetes are undoubtedly not news. However, ongoing research in recent years has found that many people diagnosed with the disease can effectively reverse the condition using lifestyle interventions alone, without medications. This latest research confirms with the strongest evidence to date the effectiveness of special diets and physical activity in reversing type 2 diabetes. The trial enrolled approximately 150 subjects, all diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within three years, with an average age of 42 years. These individuals were randomized into two groups, with the control group receiving standard care and the intervention group following an intensive special diet and physical activity program. The intervention program consisted of a 12-week low-calorie diet called the Cambridge Weight Plan at the beginning. The subjects then spent another 12 weeks transitioning to a general healthy diet, but still with calorie control. The intervention group was also required to engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, preferably walking at least 10,000 steps per day. The results showed that after 12 months, subjects in the lifestyle intervention group lost an average of 26 pounds (about 12 kg), while those in the standard care group lost an average of 9 pounds (about 4 kg). Incredibly, at the end of the 12-month study, 61% of those in the intervention group were no longer diabetic, while only 12% of those in the standard care control group achieved a similar level of remission. A similar study conducted in the United Kingdom found that 46 percent of the study participants were in full remission from diabetes within 12 months after a strict weight management intervention. Taheri said the results of the latest trial were more convincing because the average age of its participants was 10 years younger than that of the British trial and the diagnosis was more recent. This suggests that while specialty diet and physical activity interventions can be beneficial for people of all ages with type 2 diabetes, the earlier they are done, the better the results. Another point to emphasize is that we must recognize lifestyle interventions as a therapeutic tool and, equally conversely, not over-rely on them and resist the use of medications. None of the five horsemen of diabetes treatment should be missing. Different patients have different perception tendencies. Some are worried about the side effects of medications and will resist the application of medications, while all hope is placed on diet and exercise, even if the blood sugar is very poor or no medications. Some patients hope that their blood sugar can be controlled as soon as possible, but they are not binding enough, so they have poor control over diet and exercise and rely too much on the effect of drugs. Both of these situations are undesirable. We have to adopt different treatment strategies at different stages, and of course lifestyle interventions should be carried out throughout the treatment process. For patients with new-onset diabetes, they may be able to control their blood glucose well with simple lifestyle interventions, and for patients with longer duration of diabetes, even if they cannot control their blood glucose with simple lifestyle interventions and need to apply medication, the dosage of medication will be reduced and insulin resistance will be lowered by adhering to lifestyle interventions. In conclusion, the benefits of lifestyle interventions for diabetes control are undeniable. It is also important to note that it should be actively followed up when other treatment modalities need to be combined.