What is type-2 diabetes?
Type-2 diabetes is a chronic condition where your body either resists insulin or doesn't make enough of it. The result is high blood sugar, which over time damages the heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves. It affects roughly 101 million Indians — about 11.4% of the population.
This article is for education. Never change your diabetes medicine dose without consulting your doctor.
Blood sugar monitoring
Self-monitoring helps you understand how food, activity and stress affect your sugar. Your doctor will recommend a schedule — typically fasting and 2-hour post-meal readings for people on insulin or sulfonylureas.
Medicines
First-line treatment is usually metformin, which reduces liver glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity. Your doctor may add SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists, or insulin as needed. Take medicines exactly as prescribed and never skip doses.
Diet & meal planning
- Choose low-glycaemic foods — whole grains, legumes, vegetables.
- Limit refined carbs, sugar, maida and sugary drinks.
- Include protein at every meal — dal, paneer, eggs, chicken, fish.
- Use healthy fats — nuts, seeds, olive or mustard oil.
- Eat at consistent times; avoid long gaps then large meals.
Lifestyle & exercise
- Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity per week (brisk walk, cycling, swimming).
- Add resistance training 2× a week to improve insulin sensitivity.
- Lose 5–10% body weight if overweight — this alone can reverse early diabetes.
- Sleep 7–8 hours; poor sleep raises blood sugar.
- Stop smoking — it doubles diabetes heart-disease risk.
Tests you need
| Test | How often | Why |
|---|---|---|
| HbA1c | Every 3 months | 3-month average sugar — the key control marker |
| Fasting & PP glucose | As advised | Day-to-day control |
| Lipid profile | Yearly | Diabetes raises heart-disease risk |
| Kidney function (KFT) | Yearly | Diabetes can damage kidneys |
| Eye exam (retinopathy) | Yearly | Early detection prevents vision loss |
| Foot exam | Yearly | Detects neuropathy early |
References
- 1. ICMR — India Diabetes Study (2023)
- 2. ADA — Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (2026)
- 3. RSSDI Clinical Practice Guidelines