In shortage of stevia, Diabetics should not use artificial sweeteners beyond the recommended quantity. If possible try to drink tea/coffee without sugar

April 7 of each year marks the celebration of World Health Day. Ever since its inception, the celebration has aimed to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organisation. Over the past 50 years this has brought to light important health issues. The celebration is marked by activities which extend beyond the day itself and serves as an opportunity to focus worldwide attention on these important aspects of global health.

This year on World Health Day we are facing the challenge of COVID-19.  It is observed that Diabetics are at high risk of having infection from Corona Virus as compared to normal people. Also because of the lockdown, it is becoming difficult to follow optimal diet and exercise patterns, hence special attention to Diabetics is needed so that they can gain health, build immunity and fight the pandemic.

Here are few do’s and don’ts for Diabetics during the time of COVID-19-

Firstly, they should mentally adjust with the dietary and exercise constraints happily rather than complaining.

Do’s:

• Dietary innovations: 25% grain, 25% daal and 50% cooked vegetables
• Intermittent fasting with proper insulin/ medicine dose adjustments
• Eat diet low in glycemic index which helps keep the blood sugars in normal range.
• Add anti-diabetic food items in diet — bhindi (okra), tendli (kundru), cabbage, garlic, onion, cucumber and methi as is available.
• Eat dal-based roti instead of grain.
• Start meal with clear soup or methi soup.
• Filtered mustard oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, groundnut oil, rice bran oil and gingelly oil are preferred. Olive oil can be best used for salads.
• Ensure eating food at the appropriate time, in appropriate amounts and in proper frequency.
• Drink sufficient amount of water.
• Sleep before 11 pm, maintain a proper sleeping time and time period.

Don’ts:

• Do not eat white bread, chips, and pastries, which quickly increase blood sugar.
• Avoid processed foods as they are rich in salt and oil.
• Restrict fried and fatty foods.
• Do not watch too much of TV especially while eating food.
• Avoid table salt and restrict the use of salty processed foods.
• Do not miss your medication.
• Restrict refined and starchy food items such as maida, rava, white bread, potatoes, other tubers, processed foods and meats.
• In shortage of stevia, do not use artificial sweeteners beyond the recommended quantity. If possible drink tea/coffee without sugar.
• Exercise is must. Try to concentrate more on exercise than diet in this lockdown phase.

Being homebound means less activity, less mobility, less exercise thus increases the risk to other health problems because of lack of movement.  Thus one should include certain homebound easy exercise to be physically active like super brain yoga and chair suryanamaskar. This is the best time to master pranayama and deep breathing exercise.

The writer is Dr pramod tripathi Founder Freedom from Diabetes,Pune