Sweet nothings

Few of the eating joints in Pune seem to have taken diabetes into account,with the number of establishments serving sugar-free,diabetic friendly food,especially dessert,almost negligible. Vivin Kuriakose,Director Food & Beverage,Courtyard By Marriott,Pune Hinjewadi,says,“Different guests have different dietary requirements. Guests like to end their meals with a dessert,but are conscious of its health implications. We started serving sugar-free desserts to meet these needs and provide everything that our guests might need.”

However,most of the watering joints around the city are not similarly equipped. Bread Story,in Koregaon Park,replied in the negative when asked whether they had any special dishes for diabetics,as did Royal Bakers. Maria,who works for Baker’s Basket in Aundh says,“No,we don’t sell sugar-free items,though occasionally,a customer asks for them,but that’s really rare. We are thinking of starting it a few years later,but it’s not an immediate plan. We have discussed the situation with our boss,and he agrees with our assessment.”

Many people are wary of the tag ‘sugar-free’,and feel that those not suffering from diabetes should not have sugar-free dishes,but Kuriakose says,“Sugar-free means that these foods are free of sucrose,which is one of the most basic forms of sugar. It is absolutely safe for diabetics and non-diabetics to have these dishes. Many people who are not diabetic enjoy desserts but often find the desserts as too sweet for their palates. These sugar-free desserts fill that gap.”

Kayani’s more or less sums up the situation when they too deny having any sugar-free items. A worker in the shop,who wished to remain unnamed,said,“We have multi-grain bread,which has no fat,but we don’t have any specific items for diabetics. Quite frankly,we simply don’t know how to make sugar-free items.”

Certain places do serve the occasional sugar-free dish. Marz-o-rin has certain sugar-free ice creams,as well as sugar free fruit juices and plum cakes. Manoj Bahel,of Kitsch,the restaurant in O Hotel in Koregaon Park says,“We do serve sugar-free dishes,though they are not very popular. It’s mostly the diet-conscious people who like to have these dishes,rather than those who are medicated.”

If the International Diabetic Federation is to be believed,then millions more will add to the already alarming number that constitutes India’s diabetics. And with it generally believed to affect affluent areas rather than rural ones,one wonders whether Pune is ready to deal with the threat of diabetes.