What lifestyle modifications should I advise for patients with hyperglycaemia to help manage their blood sugar levels?

Advise patients to increase their consumption of foods high in dietary fibre, such as wholegrain bread and cereals, beans and lentils, vegetables, and fruit ¹.

Encourage choosing foods that are lower in fat and saturated fat, for example, replacing butter, ghee, or coconut oil with vegetable oils high in unsaturated fat, and using low-fat spreads ¹.

Recommend selecting skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and low-fat yoghurts instead of full-fat dairy products ¹.

Advise choosing lean meats and fish over fatty meats and processed meat products ¹.

Suggest cooking methods such as grilling, baking, poaching, or steaming instead of frying or roasting ¹.

Encourage avoiding foods high in fat like mayonnaise, chips, crisps, pastries, and fried snacks ¹.

Recommend snacks like fruit, unsalted nuts, or low-fat yoghurt instead of cakes, biscuits, or crisps ¹.

Advise patients to aim for weight loss of 5–10% if overweight or obese, as part of lifestyle modification ¹.

Suggest regular physical activity, such as walking or other forms of exercise, as it may lower blood glucose levels, improve cardiovascular risk, and support weight management ¹.