I'm a 34 year old working mom and have Type 2 diabetes. Most of the time I consume frozen fast food and frozen meals. Is this advisable, if yes, how much should I consume in day. Could you please advise me on the portion size of such foods.Eating fresh is the best. It is always better to eat fresh food as it is healthier and much fresher than eating frozen packaged foods, which contain too much fat, sodium and preservatives. But considering today's busy lifestyle, not everyone has free time to cook and eat fresh meals every day. But if you do consider eating frozen foods then you should keep in mind the following guidelinesCheck the nutrition label to understand the content of the food.A frozen meal has to be low in calories and fats, especially saturated and trans fat.Always look for frozen fruits and vegetables with no added sugars and preservatives.Try to avoid frozen foods which are stored in syrups like corn syrup or maple syrup.Try to incorporate the combination of fresh and frozen foods to improve nutritional quality.The freezing process does not vary nutritional values or the caloric count of foods. The process could possibly affect the potency of vitamins such folate and vitaminC. Macro nutritional values (fat, protein, carbohydrates, or sugar) are not affected by the process of freezing a food. Prior to consumption, when you thaw the food, it can impact the fluid content present. This can be seen by water being released from the food as it heats up.Try your best to avoid frozen fast food and meals as they only worsen your pre-existing ailments. But if you do opt for such foods then restrict their consumption to only one meal a day.Rutuja Mahajan Consulting Clinical Nutritionist I am 35 years old and work in the IT sector. I have a family history of Diabetes. During my pre-employment check-up, my HbA1c level was 5.9 per cent. I was diagnosed to have prediabetes. I want to take care of my health. I have consulted a dietician for a meal plan and exercise every day for 1 hour. Why is regular health check-up necessary for prediabetes?Regular health check-ups are a part of one's health regime, apart from lifestyle management. Regular health check-ups and blood tests help find the underlying problems and prevent further complications. This may lead to a better quality of life. However, if any health problems have already taken hold, early diagnosis can give you a higher chance of full recovery. By receiving the right care, screening and treatment you increase your chances of living a long and healthy life.Many people avoid health check-ups because of the fear that the tests will reveal hidden, or severe, health problems. Annual medical examinations may include complete physical and mental well-being and any investigations required whether diagnostic or blood tests as advised by your physician.Your age, health, family history, lifestyle choices (eating habits, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption) and other important factors influence what and how often you need healthcheck-ups. As you were detected with prediabetes, assessment of your blood glucose levels, which includes fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c is recommended once a year. It is also recommended to check your BMI (Body Mass Index), blood pressure and cholesterol (lipid profile) once a year to look for any development in the body. Regular checking of blood glucose levels can help in taking necessary steps on time and prevent the development of prediabetes into Diabetes.Regular health check-ups help timely diagnosis and treatment of any potentially life-threatening disease. It helps you to keep updated with the latest healthcare services and tests to remain healthy and stay free from health complications.Dr Manish BothaleConsulting Diabetologist
I'm a 34 year old working mom and have Type 2 diabetes. Most of the time I consume frozen fast food and frozen meals. Is this advisable, if yes, how much should I consume in day. Could you please advise me on the portion size of such foods.Eating fresh is the best. It is always better to eat fresh food as it is healthier and much fresher than eating frozen packaged foods, which contain too much fat, sodium and preservatives. But considering today's busy lifestyle, not everyone has free time to cook and eat fresh meals every day. But if you do consider eating frozen foods then you should keep in mind the following guidelinesCheck the nutrition label to understand the content of the food.A frozen meal has to be low in calories and fats, especially saturated and trans fat.Always look for frozen fruits and vegetables with no added sugars and preservatives.Try to avoid frozen foods which are stored in syrups like corn syrup or maple syrup.Try to incorporate the combination of fresh and frozen foods to improve nutritional quality.The freezing process does not vary nutritional values or the caloric count of foods. The process could possibly affect the potency of vitamins such folate and vitaminC. Macro nutritional values (fat, protein, carbohydrates, or sugar) are not affected by the process of freezing a food. Prior to consumption, when you thaw the food, it can impact the fluid content present. This can be seen by water being released from the food as it heats up.Try your best to avoid frozen fast food and meals as they only worsen your pre-existing ailments. But if you do opt for such foods then restrict their consumption to only one meal a day.Rutuja Mahajan Consulting Clinical Nutritionist I am 35 years old and work in the IT sector. I have a family history of Diabetes. During my pre-employment check-up, my HbA1c level was 5.9 per cent. I was diagnosed to have prediabetes. I want to take care of my health. I have consulted a dietician for a meal plan and exercise every day for 1 hour. Why is regular health check-up necessary for prediabetes?Regular health check-ups are a part of one's health regime, apart from lifestyle management. Regular health check-ups and blood tests help find the underlying problems and prevent further complications. This may lead to a better quality of life. However, if any health problems have already taken hold, early diagnosis can give you a higher chance of full recovery. By receiving the right care, screening and treatment you increase your chances of living a long and healthy life.Many people avoid health check-ups because of the fear that the tests will reveal hidden, or severe, health problems. Annual medical examinations may include complete physical and mental well-being and any investigations required whether diagnostic or blood tests as advised by your physician.Your age, health, family history, lifestyle choices (eating habits, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption) and other important factors influence what and how often you need healthcheck-ups. As you were detected with prediabetes, assessment of your blood glucose levels, which includes fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c is recommended once a year. It is also recommended to check your BMI (Body Mass Index), blood pressure and cholesterol (lipid profile) once a year to look for any development in the body. Regular checking of blood glucose levels can help in taking necessary steps on time and prevent the development of prediabetes into Diabetes.Regular health check-ups help timely diagnosis and treatment of any potentially life-threatening disease. It helps you to keep updated with the latest healthcare services and tests to remain healthy and stay free from health complications.Dr Manish BothaleConsulting Diabetologist
