HealthInfo Canterbury
Living with type 2 diabetes
This page has links to information in other languages.
What can I do?
Have regular check-ups with your general practice team to screen for complications and related problems. - Learn about eating well with diabetes.
- Quit smoking. There are many free resources and support programmes available to help.
- Find ways of getting regular exercise or increasing the amount of physical activity that you do everyday.
- Talk to your general practice team about Green Prescription, especially the special programmes for people with diabetes or prediabetes.
- Exercise classes for people with diabetes are held at the Physical Sense Gym at 300 Colombo St, Sydenham. The first four sessions are free. After that, you can get a subsidised gym membership. If you receive Work and Income (WINZ) help, you may be able to get a full subsidy for your gym membership. See this pamphlet for more details. Ask your GP if the classes would help you. Phone (03) 377‑2577 to register for a class.
- Join Diabetes Christchurch to get access to information, support groups, magazines and newsletters, and to buy diabetes supplies.
- Take control of monitoring your blood glucose levels.
- Learn about medications for diabetes and managing your diabetes.
- Read about Keeping well with diabetes.
Keeping well with diabetes is also available in Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Cook Islands Māori and Niuean.
Who can help?
The following people and organisations may be involved in your (or a family member's or friend's) healthcare.
General practice team
If you need to find a GP, you can search on this map.
Maori service providers
Some services specifically help Māori people.
The Diabetes Centre
The Diabetes Centre offers specialist care, as well as advice, resources, education, and support.
Specialists, such as dietitians, podiatrists, optometrists, and cardiologists
Below are some of the specialists you may see to help improve your health or for complications of diabetes:
- Cardiologists, search on Healthpages or Healthpoint
- Dietitians
- Ophthalmologists, search on Healthpages or Healthpoint
- Optometrists
- Podiatrists
Financial support
For information about funding that your GP might be able to use to reduce the cost of your health care, see Funding schemes at your general practice.
To find out about the disability allowance benefit, see Disability allowance for adults.
On the next page: Medications and insulin for type 2 diabetes
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by the Diabetes Centre, Christchurch Hospital. Last reviewed November 2016.
See also:
Review key: HIDTT-44406
