Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high. It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot, and tiredness. It can also increase your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, heart, and nerves. It is a lifelong condition that can affect your everyday life. You may need to change your diet, take medicines, and have regular check-ups. It is caused by problems with a chemical in the body (hormone) called insulin. It is often linked to being overweight or inactive or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.

The pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin and the primary role of this process is to regulate blood sugar – the main sugar found in blood. Unfortunately, in people with type 2 diabetes, insulin production is undermined. The result is rising blood sugar levels, which can cause a torrent of complications.

To manage the condition, people living with type 2 diabetes must control their blood sugar levels. A reddish drink has been shown to “significantly” lower blood sugar shortly after consumption.

Evidence has found drinking pu-erh tea – a unique type of fermented tea that’s traditionally made in the Yunnan Province of China – has a significant impact on blood sugar control.

Some studies have indicated that pu-erh tea appeared to reduce fasting blood glucose over a longer intervention period. Fasting blood glucose measures your blood sugar after an overnight fast (not eating). A higher dose of pu-erh also indicated that the fasting blood glucose lowered more significantly.

Apart from drinking pu-erh tea, type 2 diabetes sufferers have to bear in mind that certain foods cause a spike in blood sugar shortly after consumption. The worst culprits are carbohydrate foods because they are broken down quickly by your body and cause a rapid increase in blood glucose.

The worst offenders rank high on the glycaemic index (GI) – a rating system for foods containing carbs.

It shows how quickly each food affects your blood sugar (glucose) level when that food is eaten on its own.

High GI foods include:

• Sugar and sugary foods
• Sugary soft drinks
• White bread
• Potatoes
• White rice.

These are foods that should be avoided by sufferers of type 2 diabetes.

*this article does not replace professional medical advice