The simple principle of a diabetic is to have small quantity of food more times a day, adequate proper medication, exercise, and less stress.

 

Food, in a way is medicine to all; but its more for the diabetic, who manages to keep the level of blood sugar by frequently having small quantities of selected food items with less or no sugar. It’s also important to see that food (s)he eats, adds to ensure stabilizing the sugar level; it should provide supply of other nutrients. When a non-diabetic healthy person takes 4 idlis or 2 dosas for breakfast, the body machine runs till noon for the lunch. When a diabetic healthy person takes the same 4 idlis, or 2 dosas for breakfast, the body asks more food sometimes after 2 hours – the point is to have 2 idlis for breakfast at 9a.m. and split the next 2 idlis to have it by 11a.m. It is not as simple as to count the number! Again, at home you can define a uniform size for idli and dosa. When we buy it or have it from other places, the sizes vary – some times huge or big idlis, medium and small. The quality of idli flour paste, the consistency in size of the idli and the side dish, all decide the actual sugar hike in the body, irrespective of simply saying the number of idlis. And it tends to be the same with dosa, chapatti or paratha – or any other food! The uniformity in size, number and quantity has to be decided by the ‘diabetic’.

 

Of these the concern and endurance of family members is prime in building confidence and esteem among a diabetic member.

 

Cooking food in a home where there is a diabetic person is often a challenge. When we have children, youngsters and aged people in the home, with varying taste buds, the choice of food also varies a lot. A wider choice of menu is not an easy proposition for whoever is involved in cooking in a home. It becomes a difficult task for a home maker quite often to make a variety of menu in a home for different ‘age’, “interests” and ‘conditions’ of people in a home.

 

This is more so in the present day when the food is becoming more global; in choice, preparation, preference and availability. Know the priorities of the diabetic person, the condition and try to give food that will suit him/her.

 

It’s quite important to monitor the sugar levels, which a diabetic person under proper ‘sugar control’ may be able to sense. This calls for perseverance among members of a family, especially when diabetes fluctuates the sugar levels to stabilize ‘normalcy’ of the situation. Asking food, “frequently” or “of choice” is sometimes, embarrassing for a diabetic, which he may feel like ‘troubling others” at odd times. The readiness and cooperation-with-care attitude from the members of the family will relieve the diabetic from the feeling of stress that (s)he is ‘troubling others’. However, sugar level abruptly sinking brings a tiresome feeling, and is to be addressed immediately by having a sweet which will help to raise the sugar level to normal quickly.

 

A diabetic food kit ( with biscuits, low carbohydrate food, few sweets or any local snack items) can help the diabetic to manage the condition himself rather than depending always on somebody. The availability of these appropriate snacks itself will help them to relieve anxiety of “what if I feel hungry… or my sugar level goes down”? It also helps them not to trouble (as believed by some) the family members to ask for food frequently.

 

Whenever and wherever possible, the diabetic should try making whatever they can : like a tea or coffee how (s)he prefers. This preference often varies with the mood, time and sugar levels. Clarifying these to others, and getting what is wanted, differently at different times can be annoying if it is dependent regularly on someone.

 

Never make fun of the person if asking something to eat, frequently; remember it’s not necessarily their greed, but the sugar level that makes them prone to hunger. Respect the condition. The emotional and social support is important to feel comfortable and relaxed.

A lot of management of the diabetic condition depends on the ‘diabetic’ person; however much depends on the emotional and social care of members of family with whom (s)he is living, who need to understand, accept and encourage the decisions taken by the diabetic which may sometimes seem trivial to some.

 

Regular monitoring of health and check-ups are a must! But the way in which the concerns of a diabetic is “treated” emotionally by the family members is a prime factor to management of the condition.