Diabetes: Breaking the myths!

#TGLife

As diabetes is considered to be a lifestyle disorder, early detection and timely modification of one’s lifestyle can help prevent its further invasion and the complications that follow. For this to happen, one has to keep a track if their family has a history of diabetes and if they have, then to prevent the condition to happen to them, they have to take precautions in the youth and adulthood, instead of waiting for the old age to do so.   

“The best is, to focus on three things – diet, exercise and weight control. One must take precaution from an early age and see that he or she does not fall prey to this disease due to their incorrect lifestyle,” said Dr Vikram Dalvi, consultant, internal medicine, Manipal Hospitals Goa. Dr Dalvi was speaking to a group of senior citizens at B N Melvani Centre for Senior Citizens at Mala in Panaji on World Diabetes Day. 

While describing the signs and symptoms of diabetes, Dr Dalvi tried to break the various myths that persons living with diabetes have in their minds. He also explained the importance to following a proper diet that fulfils the nourishment requirements of the body, and not to starve or deprive oneself. He also highlighted that it is not necessary to eat at regular intervals, even if one is not hungry. 

“The diabetic person must eat like a normal person at normal times. It is not possible for a working person to take breaks to eat after every two hours. And in fact, it is not necessary too. The body needs all the nutrients and these come through our food. So a balanced diet that offers everything, in required proportions, is the best to follow. Eating moderately is important than avoiding it totally and using different non-refined oils (derived from vegetable sources, except palm oil) alternatively should be a wise decision,” he suggested.  

There is no need to cook separately for a diabetic person, as there is no such thing as a diabetic diet. What our ancestors ate in the good old days was the perfect diabetic diet. We must follow their eating habits – brown rice, wheat roti, fruits and vegetables. Eat everything moderately and remain healthy. Today’s generation is more habitual and addicted, to a certain extent, to fast food, junk food, deep-fried, processed products that tickle the taste buds, but are bad for health. 

Being aware of the foods, oils containing MUFA, PUFA, SFA (mono-saturated fatty acids, poly-saturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids and trans-fats) helps one to make a better choice. Oils that are plant based contain zero cholesterol and one can safely consume them. Instead of avoiding totally the carbohydrates, eating complex carbohydrates is advisable as they take a longer time to break into sugar. 

“Buy full cream milk than toned or double toned milk,” advised Dr Dalvi, pointing out that toned milk requires removal of total fat from the milk and then adding the desired percentage of fat again, which is a harmful chemical process. Avoid artificial sweeteners, instead have a spoonful of honey. Though both have same origin (sugarcane), jaggery has some advantage as it is not chemically processed. Eat low glycemic index foods and foods that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. 

Even if someone gets diabetes, it is possible to reverse it, if from the very beginning eating habits, meal times and exercising are well monitored. It is possible even to get rid of the medicines completely if these things are kept in control. Early detection can help a person to reverse the disease. Once it turns chronic, it is difficult to reverse. Dr Dalvi explained the use and safety of insulin too. 

Concluding the talk, Dr Dalvi recalled his experience from intensive care unit (ICU) and openly admitted that being surrounded 24x7 by complicated cases can be depressive. Prevention is always better than cure. Spreading awareness on diabetes is the need of the hour. A practicing physician now, Dr Dalvi pronounced his plans to initiate a Trust to take forward his noble mission.