The Diet Way

Dr Mannikar recommends a healthy lifestyle,regular exercise and the intake of proper medicines as the main methods of fighting diabetes. One’s daily diet should include a lot of vegetables,he says. “Eating fenugreek is extremely beneficial for diabetic patients,” adds Dr Manikkar. Chapattis made out of wheat flour should be the staple diet of diabetic patients. The forbidden list includes tobacco,smoking,alcohol,packaged food and sweets. “Ingredients which could be used instead of sugar are widely available in the market. Experiment with the sugar cubes which are less harmful as compared to the refined ones,” adds consultant dietician Anuradha Palnitkar. Apart from a healthy diet,regular walks are a must as they keep diabetes in check.

“As we observe World Diabetes Day next week,I have urged all my patients to quit smoking. Smoking is like a devil which ruins human health,” says Dr Arun Mukherjee,general physician. Mukherjee lists out several risk factors associated with this life-long disease. “Try not to be overweight and do not sweat it out more than required. It is always advisable to have a personal trainer. Physical inactivity aggravates diabetes. A history of hypertension and high blood pressure also contributes to the disease,” he informs.

Kshama Saraswat,a 48-year-old working woman,has been suffering from diabetes for the past 15 years. Once she quit her night-shift job,she has been keeping much better. “I was going against the normal body clock. To keep myself awake till the wee hours,I would often gulp down some extra cups of coffee,munch on french fries and potato chips. I never realised that this would take such a toll on my health,” says Saraswat. However,with the regular check-up,exercises,walks and healthy food,Saraswat is fitter now. Mukherjee,who has been treating her,says,“When she came to me for the first time,I advised her to reduce those extra kilos. She had to completely cut down on food which was high in cholesterol,sugar and fat. Today,she is healthier and a proud mother of twins.” So,make some special efforts to stay healthy and keep the disease at bay.