Diabetes: Busting 5 common myths about the disease

IANS

New Delhi, November 18

Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar busts some popular myths about diabetes, as she shares the right thing to do in her audiobook ‘Eating in the Age of Dieting’, available on Audible.

Myth 1: Avoid bananas, but apple is okay! “All fruits contain natural sugars, mostly fructose, which has a low glycaemic index,” says Rujuta in her audiobook. Bursting this common myth among people, she says, “Banana is even approved by the American Diabetes Association but shunned by doctors and dietitians in the country of its origin. Banana is not just safe but recommended for people with diabetes as it is mineral-rich and helps prevent high BP too.”

Myth 2:  Avoid sugar in chai/coffee, but digestive biscuits are okay. “That teaspoon or even two of sugar in your chai is much better than the low-grade sugar, trans-fat, and emulsifier-rich biscuit/cracker,” says Rujuta. Instead, she suggests, “If you must beat diabetes, then you must see that the real risk comes from the unregulated intake of food and misinformation about what is good or bad for you. So have the chai with sugar but limit it to a max of two to three cups a day, and don’t touch biscuits and the likes.”

Myth 3: Ghee specifically and fat in general, must be avoided. Nothing could be further away from the truth. “Ghee and coconut both have the essential fatty acids that further support insulin, protect the heart, and help maintain the intestinal mucosa. So if you are diabetic, the one thing that you can’t afford to miss out on is fat, and more specifically, ghee. Eat loads of it!” says Rujuta.

Myth 4: Walking is the best exercise. The cardio is good. While most of us believe walking daily is enough, Rujuta recommends “Lift weights and join a gym. Train your big muscles and develop strength in them, as loss of strength from the body is directly linked to insulin resistance and the incidence of diabetes. If you are diabetic, gymming is the best exercise for you.”

Myth 5:  Once you are diabetic, you stay diabetic “Not true! It’s easy to regulate blood sugars and support insulin function through the right approach to diet, exercise, and lifestyle” says Rujuta Diwekar. Forever an advocate for local and traditional food, she adds, “Eating traditional, local and seasonal is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to stay healthy. We have been systematically taken away from our native eating habits and introduced to new ones to live healthier lives. But in the bargain, we have gotten fatter, sicker, and diabetic.”

It’s never too late to change though. Start small, start with the basics: work out, eat the way your grandmom taught you to and regulate your bedtime. Your stress and sugar both will climb down and your confidence will climb up.