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(NC) — Did you know that there are approximately 2.7 million Canadians living with diabetes? Independent risk factors, such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, place Canadians living with diabetes at an increased risk for stroke and heart disease.

The good news is that many people with diabetes live a long, happy and productive life by controlling their blood sugar levels. While you can't change your age or genetic background, you can eliminate or control many of the risk factors associated with diabetes through a healthy lifestyle.

If you're living with diabetes, here are some easy ways to decrease your chances of suffering a stroke or heart disease.

1. Healthy Diet—A healthy diet is the first step towards healthy living. A diet that is low in fat (particularly saturated and trans fats), and salt, can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight and reduce other risk factors. Also, you will feel and look better, have more energy, and have stronger muscles and bones.

2. Physical Activity—Daily physical activity will help you reduce your risk of suffering from a stroke or heart disease. Exercise enables you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, lower your blood cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce your waist size, and improve your blood sugar in prediabetes.

Find it difficult to get started? Try different physical activities until you find one you enjoy and build it into your routine. Getting active with a friend is a great way to share time and help you meet your goals.

3. Staying Informed—Help yourself stay healthy by being an informed patient. Learn as much as you can about your diabetes and know which risk factors affect you the most, as well as how to control your blood sugar levels. Remember, it's important to know that it is never too late to start reducing your risk factors to decrease your chances of suffering from a stroke or heart disease.

A variety of treatment options such as oral anti-diabetics, insulin and a new class of medication, GLP-1 receptor agonists, exist to help people with type 2 diabetes maintain blood sugar levels. For more information about common complications associated with diabetes and effective diabetes management, including the treatment that is right for you, speak with your doctor.