Comment

Today is World Diabetes Day. It was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organisation in response to the alarming rise of diabetes around the world. DNAgives you tips on how to battle this silent disease.

Regular monitoring of sugar levels is important
The most important thing that any diabetic or pre-diabetic person needs to look at is the diet. If the diet usually consists of sweets and junk food, then one has to change the eating pattern. It is advisable to consume natural food items like fruits, vegetables and salads in large quantities. Secondly, if you are obese, controlling weight is very important. You can do that by exercising and maintaining a healthy diet. Any activity like playing a sport or even jogging and running helps a lot to burn calories. Regular monitoring of sugar levels is important in order to avoid health complications. This will help in detecting diabetes and seek timely medical treatment.
Rupali Joshi, dietician

Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy lifestyle
There are two aspects that need to be looked at, one is to manage diabetes and the other is to prevent it. Pre-diabetics should be even more careful as there is no complete cure for the disease. Both the diabetics and pre-diabetics should follow a healthy lifestyle.

It is important to follow a daily exercise regimeof at least 35 to 45 minutes. Secondly, people should opt for a healthy Indian meal rather than junk foods that are high in calories and unhealthy. Smoking and drinking are the other two evils that need to be checked.

The other aspect of today’s lifestyle is sedentary work profile in addition to physical and mental stress, which need to be tackled. Lastly, everyoneshould undergo complete check-ups at least once a year so that health problems can be detected at an early stage before things go out of hand.
Dr Abhay Mutha, Founder President, Diabetes Care and Research Foundation

Willpower and self-control help one to stay healthy
I have been suffering from diabetes for three years now. When it was detected, I was completely ignorant about the disease. There is a misconception that people are susceptible to diabetes only after the age of 40. Clearly, that is not the case. It took me more than a year to come to terms with it.
I started educating myself about the disease. To stabilise my mind, I would meditate and chant regularly. I also realised that willpower and self-control help one to stay healthy. Controlling diabetes is not just about refraining from sugar. It is very important to follow a healthy routine and follow it strictly. I make it a point to walk regularly and eat according to my diet plan.
A diabetic must learn how to say ‘no’ to food which will harm him/her no matter how tempting it is.
Jayashree Kamthe, 35, homemaker

Stay active as idleness causes one to eat more
During my pregnancy, my sugar levels were high. The doctors told me that it is a false alarm, but I must be cautious as there are high chances of developing diabetes at a later stage. At 47, I was detected with diabetes.
Earlier, I would do yoga for an hour. Now I go for one-hour walk daily. It is very important for a diabetic to be active. Idleness causes a person to eat more. Self-checking of blood sugar levels is equally important. Those who have just developed diabetes should not panic as it can be controlled. First come to terms with the disease and seek professional help.
Supriya Mandke, 53, Homemaker

Have a positive mind to deal with the disease
I was 20 years old when I found out I was diabetic. I was not surprised as almost everyone in my family suffers from the same disease.

I personally did not face many challenges. I was already in the habit of exercising regularly and I have never been fond of sugar. However, it was important for me to maintain a routine after I became diabetic.

The key is to always have a positive mind to deal with the disease. Secondly, it is important to regularly exercise for at least half-an-hour. I do ‘surya namaskar’ every day and walk for 15-20 minutes every evening. Almost four years ago, I suffered from neuropathy and one of my hands was completely paralysed. I couldn’t even eat by myself. But my determination and hard work at the therapy sessions got me through it. Today, I can even drive a car without any problems.
Sachin Gokhale, 40, production manager