Frequently Asked Questions

Type 2 diabetes happens when there’s too much sugar (called glucose) in your blood. This can happen if your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or if it can’t use insulin properly. Too much sugar in your blood can cause problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, and feet.

For more on Type 2 Diabetes visit:

National Diabetes Services Scheme

Before Type 2 diabetes starts, you might be told you have pre-diabetes. This means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes. It’s a warning to help you make changes to stay healthy and stop it from getting worse.

For more on pre-diabetes visit:

National Diabetes Services Scheme

The 2kg Challenge is a FREE program from the Western Sydney Changing Diabetes team. It helps you make simple changes, like eating healthier and moving more, so you can build healthy habits. These changes can lower your risk of diabetes and even help you turn pre-diabetes around.

Losing just 2kg can lower your chance of getting type 2 diabetes by up to 30%. We’re here to help you do it.

The 2kg Challenge is a free 8-week program that gives you simple tips to eat healthy, move more, and feel your best. You’ll get texts, emails, short videos, and can join a friendly online community for support.

Once you sign up, we’ll guide you step by step. You’ll get to choose a free program to check in on your eating, pick free or low-cost exercise options in Western Sydney, and explore simple tools to help you stay on track. The Challenge runs for 8 weeks, and each week you’ll receive helpful tips and updates to keep you motivated. At the end of the 8 weeks, we’ll check in to see how you’re going. If you’ve reached your goal – that’s great! We’ll help you keep it up. If not, we’ll support you to keep going. Getting started is easy – just sign up below.

Sign Up

The 2kg Challenge is for adults who:

• have pre-diabetes or are at risk of type 2 diabetes, and
• are above a healthy weight.

Not sure if the 2kg Challenge is right for you? You can check your weight here, visit a free SiSU Health Station or talk to your GP. Your GP may also suggest a simple blood test (called HbA1c) to see if you’re at risk of type 2 diabetes.

If you’re looking for free programs for children or teens in Western Sydney, check out the great resources at the WSLHD Centre for Population Health:
WSLHD Centre for Population Health

Absolutely! The 2kg Challenge isn’t just for preventing diabetes, it’s great for managing it too. The focus is on healthy weight loss and lifestyle changes which can help to control your blood sugar and improve your health.

If you are pregnant, we recommend getting advice from your doctor or midwife before starting any new programs. The 2kg Challenge is not recommended during pregnancy, but there are other free programs to help you stay healthy during this time. Speak to your GP, or health professional or check out WSLHD Centre for Population Health for support:

WSLHD Centre for Population Health

Gestational diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is increasing in Western Sydney. If you have GDM, you are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later. The good news is, there are steps you can take to lower your risk. After pregnancy, joining the 2kg Challenge can be a great way to get started on your journey to better health.

If you are above a healthy weight, that’s fantastic! While the goal is to lose 2kg, losing even more can be even better for some people. If you’re at risk of diabetes, losing 2kg can lower your risk by 30%. If you already have diabetes, losing 4kg can greatly improve your health and if you’re in the early stages of diabetes, losing more than 4kg might even reverse the condition entirely. The challenge is all about building healthy habits, so the more progress you make, the better you’ll feel.

That’s fantastic! Encourage them to check in with you regularly so you can keep track of their progress. By giving them personal advice and helping them stay involved in the 2kg Challenge, you’ll make it easier for them to include it in their daily routine. A strong support network can make all the difference in their long-term success! Also, for more resources, Western Sydney HealthPathways offers valuable local resources to assist clinicians in making informed decisions with their patients. Health professionals in Western Sydney can access the “Older Person’s Weight and Nutrition” pathway for further guidance and to explore localised referral pathways. To request access, contact the HealthPathways team at healthpathways@wentwest.com.au