Type 2 diabetes patients can shave around $500 off annual medical expenses by sticking with a condition-friendly diet and pursuing an exercise regimen. Medpage Today reports that the findings were published Thursday in Diabetes Care.

Researchers assessed 5,121 patients between the ages of 45 and 76 over 10 years and found patients who modified their diet and exercise habits saved on hospitalization expenses and medication costs.

They also noted that type-2 patients with a history of heart disease did not see these savings. The overall takeaway lines up with an August Government Accountability Survey which found that low-cost interventions can make a difference in diabetes patients’ costs.