Diabetes is one of the major chronic lifestyle diseases that continues to affect the overall global population. The World Health Organizatio...
Diabetes is one of the major chronic lifestyle diseases that continues to affect the overall global population. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 422 million people worldwide are suffering from diabetes and around 1.5 million deaths each year is directly linked to it.
Diabetes can occur primarily due to two major reasons,
which are lack of insulin (Type I Diabetes, T1D) or due to
ineffective use of insulin (Type 2 Diabetes, T2D). While T1D cannot be
effectively prevented, T2D is certainly preventable.
Don’t Starve, Eat Mindfully:
One of the common misconceptions that diabetics have in the context of
managing their blood sugar levels is the drastic reduction of their food intake often leading to starvation at
times. But on the contrary, proper dietary intervention strategies by a
qualified nutritionist will effectively help an individual manage their blood
sugar level often leading to reduced medicine
dependence and even reversal, in some cases. Research has indicated that
structured nutrition therapy can indeed improve glycaemic control.
Some effective dietary tips for blood sugar management are:-
1. Having small frequent
meals.
2. Not starving for prolonged periods.
3. Ensuring a rainbow-coloured platter for
every meal with enough leafy greens, fibre-laden
fruits and vegetables.
4. Eating mindfully with a
proper balance of macro and micro-nutrients depending upon your personal health
history.
5. Avoiding the intake of refined
carbohydrates, ultra-processed and junk food.
6. Going through food labels for making an informed choice.
Go for a Periodic Health Check-Up: Follow the ABC Rule:
A or A1c Control Glycemic Control
B or Blood Pressure Control
C or Cholesterol Control
Getting your HbA1c, blood pressure and cholesterol levels regularly
monitored is another cardinal step for keeping a close watch on blood sugar
levels. HbA1c is one of the best biomarkers to assess whether one is
prediabetic. In a clinical trial involving obese and overweight patients with
T2D, it was found that nutrition therapy led to a reduction of HbA1c levels up
to 0.61%-0.66%, an observation similar to the outcome after using common
diabetic medication. T2D increases the risk of cardiovascular mortality.
Optimal glycaemic control along with control of high blood pressure and
cholesterol levels are the
key steps to reduce the cardiovascular risk associated
with T2D.
- By Eshani Bhaumik Barui, Senior Dietitian Head-Nutrition, Research & Operations
YANA Diet Clinic, Food Technologist & Dietitian, Certified FSSC 22000 Lead Auditor Gold Medalist (JU)
No comments