By Jagpreet Singh Sandhu: India , a place where sweets and festivals have a perfect match for each other. Festive eating has always been a challenge to people with diabetes as it escalates sugar levels. With a number of irresistible food-sharing occasions and mouthwatering sweets to look forward during the festive season, one’s health can go for a complete toss as it becomes difficult to make a healthy choice between the platters of delicacies. Binging on high calorie sweets and snacks coupled with a sedentary lifestyle makes Indians vulnerable to various ailments particularly Diabetes.
As per a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research spanning 4 Indian states namely Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Chandigarh, 62.4 million people in India are afflicted with diabetes and another 77.2 million with pre-diabetes, reiterating the fact that India is the ‘World’s Diabetes Capital’. WHO has predicted that diabetes death will double between 2005 and 2030.
A consulting nutritionist from Metropolis Healthcare Ltd, formulated some preventive measures to help avoid festive weight gain and manage diabetes better –
Make healthy substitutions – Use low fat dairy products and substitute sugar with natural sugars like honey, jaggery, raisins and dates.
Carbonated beverages and alcohol should be strictly avoided. However, one can opt for healthier drinks such as unsweetened fresh fruit juice, buttermilk, etc.
Do not skip exercise routine during festivals. This reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers cholesterol and helps in undoing some of the damage done by over-eating!
Consume whole grains, apples, legumes, beans etc as fibre helps in blood sugar control.
The family members of a diabetic person not only support by preparing healthy diet but also try to eat the same meal along with them.It is important for the diabetic family member to know that they are not alone. Family and friends play a crucial role in helping a diabetic person manage their blood sugar so that they can live a long, healthy and happy life.