Your wellbeing at any given time is affected by a variety of factors, such as your immune system, metabolism, strength, appetite, hormones, activity levels and underlying health conditions. These factors can change suddenly or gradually over time, but either way, being in good health is always a privilege.

The problem is that many people believe they are in better health than they actually are. For example, estimates indicate that around 1.58 million South Africans have undiagnosed diabetes. If left untreated, this can lead to nerve and kidney damage, as well as a number of other equally concerning complications.

It's never too early to start prioritising your wellness

No matter how old you are, the good habits and healthy behaviours you practice today will do you well in the future, just as unhealthy habits catch up to you as you age. The good news is that there are many ways you can protect and nurture your wellbeing as you age - from eating balanced, healthy meals and keeping fit to staying up to date with health screenings relevant to your age group and family history. When taking care of your diabetes, the Scheme funds approved glucose monitoring devices and test strips for members registered on the Chronic Illness Benefit for the treatment of diabetes.

Increased responsibility can mean that healthy habits are at risk of falling by the wayside in favour of convenience. And while it may take more planning and creativity than before, prioritising your health is well worth the effort in the long run.

Try online shopping and other time-savers that enable healthy meals

Here are some pointers you can adopt:

• Prepare healthy meals in advance for days when you'll be too busy to cook from scratch. For example, cook in bulk on weekends and freeze portions separately for the week ahead. Packing a healthy lunchbox will lower the temptation to buy unhealthy foods at work.
• Staying hydrated aids concentration, so keep a bottle of water on your desk and finish it by the end of the day. If plain water is too bland, throw in fresh fruit or vegetable chunks for flavour, or try unsweetened herbal teas.
• If you drink alcohol, moderation is key. Too much can lead to unwanted weight gain and increase your risk for developing high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers.
• For women: Iron-deficiency anaemia is common among pre-menopausal women, as you lose a lot of iron through menstruation. Keep up your iron-levels by eating enough foods like liver, lean meats, legumes, nuts, dried fruit, whole grains, eggs, fortified foods, and dark green leafy vegetables. If you're trying for a baby, speak to your doctor about folic acid supplements to prevent birth defects.

When you're short on time, choose quality over quantity

Life is generally busier and more stressful for all of us. With limited time to exercise regularly, the quality of our workouts can matter more than the quantity.

Here are some top tips:

• A decrease in muscle mass as we get older can add to extra weight gain, as your metabolism slows down. High-intensity interval training is very effective to burn calories in a short time. Lengthen your rest periods when you're unfit and shorten them as you get fitter.
• If you do 15 to 20 reps with a weight and feel like you can do more, the intensity of your exercise is too light. Gradually up the game to make the most of each rep.
• Make exercise part of your daily routine if you can't fit a full workout in your day. Take the stairs, park your car further away from the shops, engage in active play with your kids or fit a few 10-minute workouts into your day.

Stay in the loop with preventive screenings

The following screenings as some of the preventive measures you can take:

If you're a woman and are (or would like to fall) pregnant, take a daily supplement containing 0.4 to 0.8 mg (400 to 800 µg) of folic acid and eat a diet rich in calcium. Dairy products provide the best sources of calcium.

It's also important to vaccinate yourself against flu. If you are pregnant, this decreases the chances of your baby contracting flu in their first six months.