Eat a healthy diet    Exercise more    Stop smoking    Limit alcohol intake"Following this common sense advice will have a very positive impact on the progression of CVD.  Although it would be good advice for non-diabetics, for diabetics it is literally a matter of life or death," says Professor Perk. "The complications of CVD when added to the underlying effects of diabetes are a dangerous combination that should be avoided at all costs.  This is why we stress the importance of diet and lifestyle changes to manage the progression of CVD."

There are encouraging signs that prevention strategy in a wider sense is climbing higher up the healthcare agenda.  The pioneering work of the Chronic Disease Alliance has recently been recognised by the prestigious European Health Award 2010. The Alliance was formed by the European Society of Cardiology and nine other not-for-profit healthcare organisations including the International Diabetes Federation.  Its role is to give scientific guidance to the EU and other regulators in order to promote policies that will lead to long-term health improvements in the population. One example, for instance, is to limit the salt content in prepared foods. The objective of these policies is to encourage better diet and lifestyles which are key to the prevention of so many chronic diseases - a very timely message to mark World Diabetes Day 2010.

Source: escardio/about/press/press-releases/pr-10/Pages/World-Diabetes-Day.aspx