Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in the UK, and symptoms may include feeling very tired, urinating more frequently than usual and losing weight without trying to.
It’s important to recognise the signs of diabetes type 2 and it can lead to heart disease and stroke, loss of feeling and pain (nerve damage), foot problems like sores and infections, and problems with your kidneys.
One of the best ways to prevent the condition developing is making simple lifestyle changes to your diet. For those who are diagnosed with diabetes type 2 this can also help control your blood sugar levels.
Alcohol isn’t a risk factor for this type of diabetes, but it can contain a lot of calories which can lead to putting on weight – this can increase the risk of the condition developing.
Certain types of alcoholic drink can cause blood sugar to spike more than others.
So what alcoholic drinks should you opt for?
Diabetes UK says spirits, dry wines and Prosecco may be the best choice.
It states: “Some drinks like beers, ales and ciders contain carbs and will increase your blood sugar levels.”
You should also opt for diet or sugar-free mixers with any spirits.
The research charity adds: “If a friend gets one for you, make it clear what you need.”
You should avoid low-sugar beers and cider. They may have less sugar, but there’s more alcohol in them.
Just one pint of a low-sugar beer can bring you above the legal limit.
Also void low-alcohol wines. These often have more sugar than normal ones.
If you do choose these, just stick to a glass or two.
Try to limit drinks with a lot of sugar, such as sweet sherries, sweet wines and liqueurs.
Cutting certain food and drinks out your diet and eating more of others can be beneficial, and one drink that has been proven to help is tea.
Scientists have claimed drinking three or four cups of tea a day can reduce the chances of developing diabetes type 2 by up to 25 per cent.
Research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine also found consuming three to four cups of decaffeinated coffee a day was associated with an approximately 33 per cent lower risk.
Those who drank three to four cups of tea per day were found to have roughly 20 per cent lower risk of diabetes than those who did not drink any tea.
But Lars Ryden, spokesman for the European Society of Cardiology, told Diabetes Self Management: “Coffee helps, but other things are even more important.
“Those who are overweight should reduce their body weight by five to 10 per cent – not too much – and include physical activity such as a brisk walk for 30 minutes day.
“Then those people who are at risk of developing diabetes will reduce the risk by 40 to 50 per cent.”
