Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition whereby one’s risk of high blood sugar levels is higher than normal. Blood sugar – the main type of sugar you get from food – nourishes the body but high levels can damage the body. If you have type 2 diabetes, the main regulating force – insulin – is impaired, which leads to high blood sugar levels.
Following a formal diagnosis, you’ll be recommended to make healthy lifestyle changes to stabilise your blood sugar levels.
There are two key components to blood sugar control – diet and exercise.
There’s nothing you cannot eat if you have type 2 diabetes, but you’ll have to limit certain foods.
Certain carbohydrate foods are broken down quickly by your body and therefore have a pronounced effect on blood sugar levels.
They include:
- Some fruit and vegetables
- Pulses
- Wholegrain foods, such as porridge oats.
In addition to improving your diet, you should aim for 2.5 hours of activity a week, advises the NHS.
Physical exercise helps lower your blood sugar level.
You can be active anywhere as long as what you’re doing gets you out of breath.
This could be:
- Fast walking
- Climbing stairs
- Doing more strenuous housework or gardening.