If you’re diabetic, you may think you need to take meds to control your blood sugar. Not so, says Dr. Phil McGraw.

McGraw — host of television’s No. 1 daytime talk show, Dr. Phil — has Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, and has come up with a new program based on his personal experiences to help diabetics manage the condition.

His six-point plan — which he calls the “On It!” program, developed in consultation with medical specialists — is built on healthy habits and lifestyle changes that can combat the blood-sugar disorder.

The program centers on the following six strategies:

Move Forward: McGraw describes the first step in diabetes management as coming to terms with the diagnosis, and moving forward to combat it.

Get Educated: Step two involves learning as much possible about the disease, and the various options – diet, exercise, and/or medication – to address and treat the disorder.

Build Your Team: It’s critically important to consult a group of specialists and advocates – doctors, nutritionists, fitness experts, family members, friends, and perhaps others – to help you create a personalized diabetes management plan.

Replace Bad Habits: McGraw says it’s not enough to simply break bad habits; you effectively maintain your health it’s important to embrace new, good habits – whether you have diabetes or not.

Making a Plan and Sticking with It: The last two steps of McGraw’s “On It” program speak to the need to be mindful about managing your diabetes by crafting a workable plan of attack, and staying with it.

McGraw says the primary take-home message of the “On It!” program is that a diabetes diagnosis does not mean you can’t live a long and healthy life.

“The advice that I have [for Type 2 diabetics] is that you’ve got to be thoughtful about this,” McGraw says. “Recognize that this is going to be with you for years and years and years to come. So, make a plan, one that you can live with.”