Diabetes, Weight Control and Glycemic Index

by Raja
(Pune)

Now at 54, I am a diabetic for the last ten years. To know that it can’t be cured may be a cause of concern; but the way the initial shock of being diagnosed as one made me change my lifestyle, diet and health consciousness for the better, and they have all been positive. My dad was a diabetic during a time when means to manage it were primitive compared to what they are today.

With this genetic factor at the back of my mind, I quite honestly lived under a constant fear of a higher blood sugar level reading each time I took the test either at a lab or myself (using my mom-in-law’s handy meter); the diagnosis to me came as a relief!

I give full credit to my physician who didn’t create much fuss to frighten me as to what it meant and which serious ailments it could potentially lead to. His words of wisdom are etched in my mind even today: it is a disease only if left uncontrolled. I promised to myself that I would control it.

He explained to me the concept of Glycemic Index- GI and I could perhaps grasp it better with the background of my graduation level Chemistry. Simply said, it’s the rate at which the ingested food gets converted into glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream; the higher the GI value, the faster it will affect the sugar level.


That's why a Glucose Tolerance Test- GTT, a certain accurately measured quantity of glucose solution in water is administered to an individual. If the blood sugar values taken after one and two hours are within the permissible level, it can safely indicate the individual being free from diabetes.

The medical advice for diabetics heavily depends on diet management though a physically active lifestyle too helps a lot. Incidentally, these are the ways for one to maintain an ideal weight too! It is a misconception that diabetes inflicts obese people only. I had a trim physique and still got it.

It is difficult to prescribe universal food items for diabetics; food preferences being so diverse. In general, items such as, vegetables and fruits (barring potatoes and melons) pasta, most pulses, yogurt and milk, are all in low GI category. Whole wheat bread, rice and sweet potato are rated in medium GI range. Doesn’t this list offer enough items to suit one’s taste?

I had to make very few modifications to my food post diabetes. Some extra emphasis on keeping myself busy, both physically and mentally, has helped me control my blood sugar levels to my physician’s satisfaction. I have total faith in God and that keeps me off worry.