"Over a million New Zealanders either have Type 2 diabetes or are at risk of getting it and 90% of those people are obese - that is 1 in 4!
If these figures scare you, they should - if we don't take action, the Ministry of Health predict by 2028, 10% of our population will have Type 2 diabetes and 40% will be at risk" (Source: www.eatforkeeps.com).
This got me thinking about what changes I need to make in my life so that I can reduce my risk of getting type 2 Diabetes. I have been doing some research about this over the last couple of weeks and have recently changed my diet. My main focus is to eat lots of whole foods (such as whole grain bread, fruit, nuts) and to cut out the processed and junk foods. I have also been making sure that I eat breakfast every day and am trying to drink lots of water.
Today I was introduced to a company called Eat for Keeps who specialise in the prevention and management of Type 2 Diabetes and weight related problems. They have come up with an idea to help New Zealanders get their health back on track… it is The 'Big NZ' Challenge.
The 'Big NZ' Challenge is all about giving you the skills and knowledge to help you lose weight and improve your health by eating the right foods. There are no diets and you do not need to starve. The goal is to keep your blood sugar levels under control which will help you reduce the glucose in your body and ultimately help you to lose weight.
The 'Big NZ' Challenge has 10 steps… some of these are easier than others, such as eating breakfast every day, or switching to wholegrain bread. Others require a bit more effort, such as exercising for 10 minutes every day. The idea is to make a start and gradually add in a new step each week until you are doing all 10.
You owe it to your health to give it a go…