Diet and lifestyle changes are a cornerstone in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. Smart food choices that lead to healthy body weight are an effective way of controlling the blood sugar levels and preventing progression of diabetes. In simplified terms this means:

• Eating regular meals
• Eating plenty of vegetables as part of your meals (half of your plate should be covered with vegetables or salad)
• Avoiding foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt
• Controlling portion sizes
• Having daily physical activity (all young people should do at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day)

Following a healthy, balanced diet will help to control blood glucose, blood fats and blood pressure, as well as helping to maintain a healthy weight. This can help to reduce your risk of complications. 

You should avoid sugary drinks and fruit juices.  Sugar in juices and drinks can quickly make blood glucose levels go very high and make you gain weight. Instead choose water, sugar-free and diet soft drinks. Tea and coffee are okay to include as long as they are sugar free.

Also, avoid foods labelled 'diabetic' or 'suitable for diabetics'. These foods contain similar amounts of calories and fat, and they can affect your blood glucose levels. They are usually more expensive and can have a laxative effect. 

Try to make healthier food choices that are realistic and achievable.  Making any of the changes above can help you be as healthy as possible. Don't radically change everything at the same time as it makes it much harder to stick to it in the longer term.

It usually isn't necessary to eat snacks, but if you do find yourself hungry between meals, then healthy choices might be a piece of fruit, rice cakes or a fat-free yogurt.

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