Early warning signs of type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, hunger and urination. In addition, muscle weakness, blurred vision and weight loss can all be symptoms of the condition. How can you prevent it from happening? The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has warned that high blood sugar – ie diabetes – tends to develop gradually “after the age of 40”. It is closely linked to being obese, being physically inactive and having a family history of the condition, such as father or mother.
Too much sugar in the bloodstream can be dangerous, as it can damage the arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.
A healthy weight – with a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 – can be maintained through diet and exercise.
This leads to third and fourth lifestyle habits to help prevent type 2 diabetes.
The BHF encourages people to be “more active” in their daily lives – essentially exercising every day.
The BHF is offering people the opportunity to sign up for My Step Challenge.
Then you have the choice to choose your fitness goal, whether it be:
50k Step Challenge;
250k Step Challenge;
A half-million step challenge;
Or create your own challenge.
“Losing a day just means starting again tomorrow. Your health is worth the effort now and in the future,” the BHF said.
In addition to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, exercise can be seen as a miraculous cure, preventing ill health.
The fourth – and final – approach is shared by the BHF to reduce the risk of diabetes “eating a healthy, balanced diet”.
Three tips for healthy eating
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
- Choose wholegrain bread, rice, pasta and potatoes
- Opt for low fat, low salt, and low sugar
Try to eat – at least – five portions of fruit and vegetables a day; one portion is equal to one hand.
Remove saturated fat (such as butter) for unsaturated fats (such as olive oil).
And also stop adding salt to any cooking, or having salt on the dinner table.