Coffee, boiled eggs and exercise - ways to reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes

The number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is rising. But key lifestyle changes, including exercise and diet, can help reduce your risk of developing the condition 

Exercising — at any time of the day — can be a preventative measure against type 2 diabetes. Picture: iStock

If there is a ticking timebomb for our health, it’s type 2 diabetes. Ireland is ranked seventh in the world for diabetes-related health expenditure per person, and Diabetes Ireland, estimates that around 270,000 people in Ireland are living with the condition.

One in 10 adults over 50 in Ireland has type 2 diabetes, according to The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (Tilda), which is predominantly linked to lifestyle habits. What’s concerning is that these figures are on the rise. According to the Healthy Ireland survey, more than 850,000 adults over 40 are at increased risk of developing (or already have) type 2 diabetes. Some 300,000 aged 30 to 39 are also at risk due to inactivity and obesity.