Diabetes cannot be totally prevented. Once contacted, the treatment has to be followed lifelong. The drugs and treatment are expensive. If the diabetic is the bread winner, diabetes can cause very high mental, physical and financial burden. The whole family suffers along with the patient. If the diabetic is young then there is also more chance of vital and productive years being lost than an older individual.

The biggest contribution to patient management is patient’s regularity and interest in his own treatment. Patient’s compliance in terms of diet, exercise, medicines, regular testing and follow–ups go a long way in treating the hormone deficiency.

Diet
Basically Indians have two meals a day. But it is more healthy to divide your meals equally into four parts viz. Breakfast, Lunch, Tea–time snack and Dinner.

1. Eat leafy vegetables, salads and edible fiber foods. This will not only help in controlling your weight, your blood sugar level and clean your system.
2. Have rice once a day and in limited amount.
3. Include cereals, chappattis and bakri or jowar rotis and brown bread (moderate quantity) in your diet.
4. Sprouts are rich in proteins. Eat these moderately and according to whether you do sedentary, heavy or moderate work.
5. Fruits should be taken once a day and without peeling like apple, sweet lime, etc.
6. Since fiber food is important. Eat a full fruit instead of fruit juice. Vitamin C and Vitamin E in the fruit will help in digestion.
7. Drink cow’s milk as it is less fatty. It is advisable to boil the milk, refrigerate it to let the fat settle on it before consuming it.
8. Eat low fat food.
9. Eat fish or egg white. Fish is nutritional when taken boiled, baked or grilled.

Avoid these

1. Avoid fried food like pakoras, bhajias, pickles, etc.
2. Avoid refined foods like maida, etc.
3. Avoid processed food like cheese, butter, etc.
4. Avoid red meat like beef, pork and mutton.
5. Avoid sweet potato, and jam. Carbohydrate–rich food has starch when consumed converts fast to sugar.
6. Avoid eating junk food.
7. Avoid aerated drinks because added sugar and preservatives are not good for health.

Once you have been diagnosed to have diabetes, it is necessary you take the advantage of personalized advice of a dietician.

Exercise

1. Exercise for at least 45 minutes everyday.
2. Empty stomach walk helps blood circulation, stimulates insulin hormone which controls blood sugar level.
3. Dynamic exercises like running, jogging, walking, swimming, dancing, skipping and badminton are good for health.
4. Static exercises like yoga and hand exercises are not very useful.
5. If you are keen to do yoga/aerobics: It must be taken up after consulting your yoga/aerobics teacher.