A Vanderbilt University study finds being able to work with numbers is important for diabetics trying to manage their blood sugar levels.

Reuters reports that researchers tested 383 type-2 diabetics on a range of number-related tasks and found that those who did well on the math exams had better results on tests that estimate a person’s average blood sugar level over the previous few months.

The findings suggests that helping diabetes patients with their understanding of numbers might also help them with their blood sugar control.

Counting carbohydrates, adjusting insulin doses and keeping track of blood sugar readings are all number-related tasks diabetics must tackle on a daily basis.

According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, with about 90 to 95 percent having type 2 diabetes.

Inadequate management of blood sugar levels have been linked to damage of the eyes, heart, kidneys and nerves.

Some believe nutritional supplements containing ginseng, chromium, magnesium and zinc can be helpful in managing diabetes.