The author is Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare

November 01,2023 10:49:15 AM
Diabetes and cholesterol abnormalities commonly occur together, and much like diabetes and hypertension, confer a greater risk than either factor alone, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Max Healthcare
Wed, Nov 01, 2023
October 18,2023 11:13:38 AM
Consult your doctor beforehand and discuss the pattern of eating you are planning to follow. However, if you are on insulin or on drugs like sulphonylureas that can cause low blood sugar, it is best to avoid fasting, advises Dr Ambrish Mithal, chairman of endocrinology and diabetes at Max Healthcare
Wed, Oct 18, 2023
October 04,2023 09:00:38 AM
Like with diabetes, the challenge with hypertension is that most often it produces no symptoms till organ damage has occurred, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Max Healthcare
Thu, Oct 12, 2023
September 20,2023 09:42:40 AM
They are rich in fibre, which prevents sugar spikes. WHO suggests consuming more than 400 grams of vegetables per day to improve overall health and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. Contrary to popular perception, the vegetable consumption in India is way below recommended standards, averaging only 150 gm/day
Wed, Sep 20, 2023
August 23,2023 09:55:47 AM
Men with diabetes may be at increased risk of low blood levels of the male hormone, testosterone. This not only leads to reduced sexual desire and sperm formation but can also result in reduced bone mass (osteoporosis), muscle mass and strength besides depression, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Thu, Aug 24, 2023
July 26,2023 09:00:22 AM
Most of the time we rely on a fasting value or a few values taken over a period of days or weeks, along with an HbA1c (a three month average of our blood glucose) to decide the course of treatment. These do not factor in variations in our blood glucose within each day. Devices do that, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Jul 26, 2023
July 12,2023 12:30:17 PM
Many patients consider prediabetes as still a safe zone. Prediabetes can be interpreted as “prevent diabetes.” With lifestyle measures like diet and exercise, you can lose excess body weight and reverse prediabetes to normal, or at least slow down conversion to diabetes. So look at prediabetes as a window of opportunity, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Thu, Jul 13, 2023
June 28,2023 14:03:30 PM
Retatrutide is a triple receptor agonist and offers hope. However, the 2023 story of anti-obesity drugs does not end there. One of the main challenges in this field is the limited efficacy of oral preparations, although Semaglutide has partially surmounted that barrier, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Thu, Jun 29, 2023
June 07,2023 09:00:48 AM
Due to their high protein and fibre content, nuts like almonds and walnuts have a low glycemic index. So they don’t cause sharp spikes in blood glucose and may slow down its release when taken with carbohydrate-rich meals. They provide satiety and tame hunger pangs, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Jun 07, 2023
May 24,2023 09:00:58 AM
Large studies published in 2017 suggested that those on low-gluten diets are actually MORE prone to diabetes and heart disease, likely because of lower whole grain consumption. For most of the population, giving up gluten does not offer any health benefits unless there is a proven sensitivity, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, May 24, 2023
May 10,2023 09:09:41 AM
Digestive or diabetic-friendly biscuits are not calorie-free or necessarily healthy. They may contain just 15-20 per cent fewer calories than the regular variety and may encourage you to consume large portions, thinking that they are safe. Many of them are loaded with sugar. Follow the low-cal snack list below, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, May 10, 2023
April 26,2023 12:00:51 PM
About 25 per cent of those with diabetes onset under 25 have Type 2 diabetes. Early onset of diabetes means increasing the chances of complications when people are in the prime of their life, namely in the 50s and 60s, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Apr 26, 2023
April 12,2023 08:29:38 AM
If you want to take a full medium-sized mango over a day, you will have to omit other fruits. Find out your total carbohydrate allowance. It is important that mangoes fit into your total carbs for the day and you do not exceed limits, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Apr 12, 2023
April 05,2023 07:48:55 AM
If you have kidney issues, then avoid potassium-rich foods like fruit juices, coconut water, potatoes and tomatoes. Phosphorus also tends to accumulate if kidneys are not functioning well and can be toxic. Dairy, beans, nuts, colas and most packaged foods are high in phosphorus and should not be consumed, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Apr 05, 2023
March 22,2023 12:00:23 PM
Stress and anxiety can change your eating habits and lifestyle. You may feel excessively hungry or lose appetite. Late night comfort eating is common, as is missing meals. This can throw your glucose control into disarray, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Mar 22, 2023
March 08,2023 06:35:10 AM
Sleep and diabetes make for a two-way street. Sub-optimal diabetes control can worsen sleep and poor sleep quality and quantity can worsen diabetes. Too little, or even too much sleep can hamper metabolic functions of the body, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Mar 08, 2023
February 22,2023 09:11:29 AM
There are some good takeaways from the TLC programme. It is holistic, in the sense that it focusses not just on diet, but also encourages daily exercise and weight loss as equal contributors to better heart health, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Feb 22, 2023
February 08,2023 09:10:15 AM
Despite common belief, cabbages, broccoli, brussels sprouts and cauliflowers (cruciferous vegetables), do not cause hypothyroidism or aggravate it. They do have goitrogens (substances that can produce thyroid enlargement) but these are generally lost during cooking, and in any case have hardly any impact if iodine supplies are adequate, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Feb 08, 2023
January 25,2023 09:10:13 AM
All major millets are useful in diabetes. Jowar contains slowly digestible starch (SDS) which delays carbohydrate absorption. Besides the fibre, vitamin E, phenolic compounds and tannins have anti-oxidant properties. Human studies have shown that jowar-based foods reduce the post-meal spike of blood glucose in diabetes, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Thu, Jan 26, 2023
December 28,2022 07:37:08 AM
People with uncontrolled, long-standing diabetes have poor quality bones, which fracture easily. They have lower muscle mass, which indirectly impacts their bone strength, and also makes them more prone to falling and breaking a bone, explains Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Dec 28, 2022
December 07,2022 09:00:27 AM
Injectable Semaglutide (as opposed to oral, which is available in India) given in a dose of 2.4 mg weekly can result in a mean weight loss of 15 kg over 7 months in those without diabetes. The figures for those with diabetes are slightly lower, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Dec 07, 2022
November 09,2022 10:58:18 AM
Use of lower daily doses is preferred over large intermittent doses. Injectable vitamin D contains very high amounts (600,000 IU) and is not recommended. The measurement of 25OHD level is possible with the dose then being tailored by your doctor, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Thu, Nov 10, 2022
October 26,2022 10:59:05 AM
Using artificial sweeteners may provoke a sense of complacency and drive us to eat other high-calorie food more liberally. It is common to see people digging into their brownies and pizzas but taking extra care to order only diet colas. It has been suggested that these intensely sweet substances may alter how our brains respond to signals, making less sweet substances like fruits unappealing to our senses, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Thu, Oct 27, 2022
October 12,2022 13:07:44 PM
The most remarkable advancement in recent times has been the development of glucose-lowering medications that can also reduce the risk of heart (and kidney) complications independent of their glucose-lowering effects, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Wed, Oct 12, 2022
August 03,2022 13:23:29 PM
When you eat carbohydrates in combination with protein (or fat), it can take longer for your body to convert the former into glucose, leading to lower post-meal blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Besides, protein builds muscle mass which prevents falls among diabetics, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare
Mon, Aug 08, 2022




