Type 2 diabetes would be hassle-free were it not for high blood sugar levels – the main threat posed by the chronic condition. Blood sugar supplies energy to your cells but having too much of it in your bloodstream can damage blood vessels, causing all manner of complications. The pancreas normally moderates blood sugar by releasing insulin but in a person with diabetes, this process has gone awry.
Studies show that green tea may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels.
What’s more, green tea has also been shown to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the first place.
One study in Japanese individuals found that those who drank the most green tea had an approximately 42 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Furthermore, in a review of seven studies with a total of 286,701 individuals, tea drinkers had an 18 percent lower risk of diabetes.
The NHS says to aim for 2.5 hours of activity a week to reap the benefits.
“You can be active anywhere as long as what you’re doing gets you out of breath,” advises the health site.
Type 2 diabetes – how to spot it
Many people have type 2 diabetes without realising. This is because symptoms do not necessarily make you feel unwell.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:
- Urinate more than usual, particularly at night
- Feeling thirsty all the time
- Feeling very tired
- Losing weight without trying to
- Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
- Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
- Blurred vision