Eid Mubarak, Diabetics: Celebrate with a little care!

In just a few days Ramadan will end and the day for which the devout wait will arrive. The celebration will start the night before when the moon is sighted. But the highpoint will come the next day when the dining table is spread with a feast fit for kings. Eid is synonymous with feasting and indulgence.

And for diabetics there are too many temptations. But with just a little care they can enjoy all the food and not let their health suffer. This Eid is known as ‘Meethi Eid’ and that poses the biggest challenge for diabetics. So here we share some tips on how to make this indulgence safe without causing health problems for diabetics.

• Follow the routine of eating small and frequent meals. This will help keep your blood sugar levels in control
• Diabetics are warned against consuming too many celebratory sweets and snacks. Reach out for nuts instead
• When preparing sweet dishes, use low fat or skimmed milk, use less ghee or oil and replace sugar with natural sweeteners such as jaggery and dates
• Choose lean meat and fish cooked in less oil and salt instead of red meats
• Avoid foods that are high in calories, such as sweets and deep and fried foods such as parantha, puri, samosa, pakoras and papads
• Opt for foods with high fibre content such as vegetables and fruits. You can pick vegetables and lean meats from the biryani or choose a fruit based dish over a sweet
• Avoid foods that have a high glycemic index such as maida, pasta, rice, potato, white bread and opt for foods with low glycemic index such as whole grain cereals and brown rice
• Serve small portions of foods and avoid second helpings. This way you can control the amount you are eating
• Request your friends and family members to not force sweets, fried foods and sugary drinks
• Before stepping out to visit friends and family, eat some low carb foods at home. This way you will eat less of the oily and sugary foods
• Learn how to prepare sweet dishes with sugar free substitutes (sucraloze)
• Continue your insulin intake as prescribed and do not skip your exercise routine this day So don’t rob yourself of the enjoyment and festivities this Eid, just eat right and stay healthy. (Inputs by Dr K D Modi, Senior endocrinologist and head of department CARE Hospital, Nampally, Hyderabad)