Diabetes death rates down

Lifestyle changes and improved medications have helped bring down death rates from type II diabetes.

A report from the U.S. finds death rates for people with diabetes dropped substantially between 1997 and 2006; especially deaths from heart disease and stroke related to type II diabetes.

Researchers say people are doing a better job managing their blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure than in the past.

Also, diabetics are smoking less and exercising more.

However, obesity levels among people with diabetes continue to climb.