“Daktre nange sugar ide!”
This is something I get to hear from every fourth
person I meet. ”Doctor, I have sugar!” With India being the diabetes capital of
the world, a spacious home to about 60 million people living with this disorder there is a lot more that
needs to be done in this regard. As a
doctor I would like to share a few thoughts today on World Diabetes Day. 'Healthy Living And Diabetes' is the theme for the period 2014-2016.
Diabetes has no
longer remained a problem of the rich. A day ago one of the house keeping staff
of my laboratory came to me.
“Madam! 279 Madam! Is it because of the Diwali sweets?”
I gave him some serious advice. I told him to go for a check up, for some
more laboratory tests and for a dietitian consultation, but the indifference with
which he responded only made me realize that this diabetes problem is a tough one to
deal with in this country. It requires a multifaceted approach. Do visit the Diabetes Foundation Of
India to know more on what is being done in India.
My concern is that there are innumerable myths around this
non-communicable disease. I would like to throw some light on the most popular.
- SUGAR is synonymous with DIABETES.
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| Picture Courtesy |
No. Diabetes has reached such magnitude that we need
to be a tad serious about it. Sugar does not mean diabetes, let us get more
rational and scientific.
- INSULIN is worse than TABLETS.
No. Treatment has to be monitored by a diabetologist.
Do visit one before getting into self medications. What works for one patient
may not work for the other.
- I only have to STOP EATING SWEETS.
No. Diabetics require a diet. There is nothing like no
sweets. We all are born with a sweet tooth, aren’t we? And that too with so
many festivals that have to be celebrated every fortnight! But yes, we need to watch what
we eat, when we eat and how much we eat!
- My PARENTS DON’T HAVE DIABETES, So I WON’T GET IT.
No. Although there is familial predisposition there is
no science behind this baseless thought. Diabetes is a lifestyle disorder, mind you it
is a DISORDER and not a disease.
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| Picture Courtesy |
- I HAVE 'ONLY' DIABETES.
NO. This is a major misconception among diabetics. You
know that constant feeling of self assurance 'Nothing is wrong, it is only
diabetes' The first step towards living with and solving a problem is
accepting it followed by gaining knowledge about it. Diabetes can lead to
multiple health issues, if I were to list it as a risk factor for the number of
other diseases I can begin and end a major medicine textbook.
Some diabetics do good and live with it like they have no
problem at all, what I see in them is the difference in attitude - diet,
exercise, medicines, health updates and most importantly 'HAPPINESS'- Hakunamatata! :-)
My mother is someone who believes not in fighting with diabetes, but in living smart with it :-D
She was the one who reminded me this morning.
“Aren’t you going to wish me today?” she asked.
“Why?” I questioned in reply looking at her adorable
smile.
“Today is World Diabetes Day, it is kind of my day”
she said.
And we laughed.
We had gorged on this last week. Haha! :-)
-R.
