Certain people develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, and as a result, their bodies do not make enough insulin or cannot use insulin as well as they should.¹

Insulin is a hormone made by your body to help it use sugar from the carbohydrates you eat (e.g. bread, pasta).² Therefore, without insulin or too little of it, your blood sugar levels (blood glucose levels, blood sugar) keep rising (hyperglycemia). Subsequently, this causes a range of diabetes symptoms and may cause long-term health problems.^1,3

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Common symptoms of prediabetes are similar to type 2 diabetes symptoms and include increased thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue.

Risk factors for prediabetes include being overweight or obese, having a family history of diabetes, and being over the age of 45.

If you are worried about type 2 diabetes, then speak to your doctor.² Knowing you have T2DM is an essential first step in taking control of the condition, rather than letting the condition take control of you.^2,4

Up to 15 % of South Africans over the age of 25 have type 2 diabetes.⁵ Knowing if you are one of them can help you take control of the condition.²

Getting a prompt diagnosis and starting treatment and self-care for T2DM thereafter can help you feel better and prevent future problems.^1,3,4,6

If left undiagnosed, untreated or poorly controlled, type 2 diabetes can eventually cause several complications which are unpleasant and can be life-threatening.⁶ These include heart problems, stroke and blindness.⁶

It is important to bring your blood sugar levels under control in order to reduce your risk of complications.^3,6

With type 2 diabetes mellitus, your health is in your hands:⁷ In fact, following your prescribed treatment and choosing a healthy lifestyle and diet is essential in managing your condition.¹ For some, changes to diet and lifestyle can even ‘reverse’ T2DM.⁸

To bring your blood sugar levels under control:⁹

• Get physically active (30 minutes/day)
• Stop smoking
• Lose weight if overweight
• Take medications as prescribed
• Look after your feet!
• Attend all medical appointments
• Eat a diabetes-friendly diet (diabetes diet)

Eat a healthy diet⁹

• If overweight, reduce the calories in your food
• Replace saturated fats (e.g. dairy products) with unsaturated fats (e.g. avocado, nuts, olive and vegetable oils)
• Eat dietary fibre (e.g. fruit, vegetables, whole grains)
• Avoid excessive alcohol
• Avoid added sugar, particularly sugary drinks
• Educate yourself about healthy food choices and stick to a healthy, balanced diet

While self-care is important, remember you are not alone in caring for yourself. It is important to enlist the help of others.⁹

Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can feel frightening and overwhelming,¹³ but you are not alone.⁵ Diagnosis and early treatment can help you feel good today – and in the future.³

• The Diabetes SA website provides information about the condition and also offers phone and chat support
• The Sweet Life is a community for people living with diabetes which also offers support to those living alongside people with diabetes