Dr. Halberg: Life expectancy drop in U.S. could be partly from diabetes

Life expectancy in the U.S. declined last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many factors contributed to the decline, and the increased rate of diabetes may be one of them.

Diabetes remains one of the top 10 leading causes of death, but the disease can be managed, says Dr. Jon Hallberg of the University of Minnesota.

Type 2 diabetes, far more common for Americans, is often the result of lifestyle choices, Hallberg said.

"More often than not this is due to a combination of getting too much sugar in our system and not burning it up. It's often the kind of thing we can do something about."

Doctors typically recommend people with diabetes control their diet and become more active.

Hallberg advises keeping on top of the disease.

"Having those high sugar levels day after day after day can cause problems," he said. "We don't want that to happen."