Sheela Paul &Rohini
- Dietitians
Festivals
are associated with happiness and merry making, food and drink. These
festivals, however, are not very friendly to people with
diabetes, who are often forced to make dietary changes. During festivals, people with
diabetes
are exposed to calorie –rich and unhealthy food, yet not allowed to eat
them by family members who take on the role of‘diabetes police’.
However, people with
diabetes can also celebrate festivals with the rest of the family without harming themselves.
Indian cuisine is rich in healthy, low-calorie,
diabetes-
friendly recipes and food preparations. A bit of creativity,
originality and effort on the part of the family can produce many
diabetes friendly dishes.
Advancements in treatment options keep diabetics well and allow them to live a healthy life without complications.
Diet,
exercise, medication and monitoringare the four pillars for maintaining
glucose and insulin levels in the blood at all times.
About the Diet:
A
diabetic diet is not about abstaining from food you love, but about
making simple modifications. Choose foods like whole grains, pulses and
nuts, vegetables, fruits and fat-free/low-fat milk products.
Eating
at regular intervals helps to control blood glucose levels. Diabetics
should have six small meals rather than 2 – 3 large meals a day. Limit
fried foods, sugars, sweets, desserts, candies and refined foods.
Physical activity
Regular exercise is important for everyone, especially for people with
diabetes.
Around 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week is necessary to
control blood sugar levels. It also burns excess calories and
fat.However, exercise doesn’t mean spending hours at the gym or running
for miles. It can even be activities like dancing, skipping, cycling,
playing badminton and swimming. It is important to choose an activity
that you enjoy and do it regularly.
Medication
People with type-2
diabetes
are either on oral hypoglycemic drugs oron insulin. Oral medications
are effective as long asthere are some active insulin producing beta
cells. Recent studies have shown that early and appropriate use of
insulin not only prevents short-term complications but also reduces
long-term effects of poorly controlled
diabetes
and slows down the natural progression of the disease. Diabetics should
take medications as directed and should not drop or change drugs
without consulting their doctor.
Monitoring
Check
your blood sugar as often as your doctor suggests. Regular monitoring
of blood sugar levels helps doctors to analyse the effect of food,
exercise and insulin or medicine on you. Along with self-monitoring of
blood glucose level, get an HbA1C test done every three months without
fail.
The HbA1C level shows how well the blood sugar has been
controlled during the previous 2 – 3 months. Also, get blood pressure,
lipid profile, urine microalbuminuria and serum creatinine checked
regularly to prevent further complications.
Lifestyle modifications
There are various day-to -day situations that can alter your daily routine and hence the best way to cope with
diabetes is to take an active part in the treatment plan.
Acute illness: Illnesses
like viral colds or flu, infections, dental problems, injuries, fever,
vomiting and diarrhoea can disrupt your blood glucose control. In case
of illness, glucose monitoring should be increased along with treating
the illness. Also keep a check on the fluid intake during this period.It
is better to visit your doctor if your blood sugar is too high or low.
Emotional stress also affects blood glucose levels. Hence, it is better
to stay at home when ill and take adequate rest.
Party time and festivals: People with
diabetes
can enjoy foods served at parties and festivals but in moderation.
Don’t stop your medicines and monitoring on any occasion and practise
portion control. Follow a regular exercise routine. Eating more during
festivals can be compensated by moderate exercise.
Avoid smoking
and alcohol. If you want to drink, then don’t drink on an empty
stomach.Have a drink along with your meal. It is better to avoid
fasting. But if you want to, it is essential to consult doctor your
before you fast.
In a nutshell
- Follow your schedule of eating, activity, and medicine regime.
- Try to maintain optimum weight, activity, blood sugar level.
- Prevent hyper and hypoglycemia. Always carry a carbohydrate snacks to handle a low blood sugar level at anytime.
Understanding
diabetes and keeping the balance between all four pillars remains the key to good health for people with
diabetes. It is a disorder but you can manage it and live a happy life.
It is natural for people with
diabetes
to experience anxiety and fear because they have to constantly maintain
their blood sugar levels. Therefore, a few changes in lifestyle and
food habits along with proper medication and monitoring can help a
diabetic lead a normal and healthy life.
