Diabetes and Diet

by Sweetu
(Kolkata)

I have seen my father suffering from diabetes over the last year. He has no past family history of diabetes and was always aware of the foods that he used to eat.

But because of high stress levels, the family physician saw his health deteriorating and suggested him to do the fasting followed by postprandial blood sugar test. He turned out to be a borderline diabetic.

The dietician suggested him a diet chart based on his sugar levels, his body weight and how physically active he is. He follows a strict diet regimen and has kept the diabetes under control. He goes for walks for half an hour in the morning as well as in the evening.

The diet he follows is:

Breakfast at 8 am consists of black or herbal tea with two pieces of plain biscuits, oats cooked in milk with a seasonal fruit. At around noon he has his lunch which consists of a bowl of brown rice, pulses, and a bowl of boiled vegetables, baked fish/chicken along with yoghurt. Evening snacks are sprouted pulses. He has an early dinner at 7:30 pm which includes chapati, pulses, vegetable curry and salads.

He eats small portions at frequent intervals, avoids processed and fried foods and prefers a well balanced and healthy diet. He does glycosylated hemoglobin test HBA1C every three months and the indicators now indicate good control of diabetes.

Diabetes has become very common now and is considered to be a lifestyle disease. So a diabetic diet should be high in complex carbohydrates, high in fiber, low in sugar and saturated fats.