What are the Things We Dos and Don’ts in Diabetes? By Dr V Mohan, Chairman, and Chief Diabetologist
The first line of management of all patients with diabetes is healthy eating and regular physical activity. Medications are second-line treatment measures if diet and exercise fail to achieve adequate control. Medication in diabetes can either be oral tablets (oral hypoglycemic agents or OHAs) or insulin injections. A diabetes person's diet need not be a complete deviation from the normal diet. The nutritional requirements of a person with diabetes are the same as in the person without diabetes. However, the nutrient intake has to be tailor-made based on the age, sex, weight, height, physical activity, physiological needs and current dietary history and routine of the patient. Healthy eating is the cornerstone of therapy for diabetes mellitus. An individual with diabetes can often manage his condition by diet and exercise alone. When a patient with diabetes neglects this important aspect of diabetes management, then his/her blood sugars become uncontrolled.