Name: Mr Jatin VoraAge: 37 yearsProfession: ArchitectThe journey so far ...Although my lifestyle is hectic I enjoy numerous sporting activities like cricket, tennis, swimming and golfing. I was overall active and enjoyed eating sweets at my will; until I was detected with Diabetes during my pre-employment health check-up at the age of 35. My blood sugar level was 175 mg/dL and my HbAlc was 7 per cent. Other than the elevated sugar and HbA 1c levels, I did not display any outward symptom of Diabetes. As all my other health parameters were within the normal range, the diabetologist started Metformin.Impact on your familyBeing diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, took a while to sink in. The most common reaction was to give up the food that we as a family enjoyed. This mixed with the anxiety regarding the complication of the disease only added to the fear. I have always had a sweet tooth and would often eat sweets every day. If you have a sweet tooth and are diagnosed with Diabetes not only does it become difficult to accommodate your new meal plan but also coming to terms with reality. My family's support here has been invaluable.My parents and I together visited a dietician who helped me formulate a meal plan which I could adhere to. The dietician suggested option to avoid repetition. I have successfully been following the diet for two years now. I make it a point to visit the dietician once every six months to discuss variations in my meal plan.My dietMy diet has changed substantially with my meals being broken down into eight portions. I have started carrying small sweets with me to avoid hypoglycaemia and appease my sweet tooth. My meals contain at least one serving of fruits or green leafy vegetables every day.At 6 am, I have a cup of green tea, 2 soaked almonds and 2 pieces' walnuts.I have my breakfast at 7 am which consists of a bowl steamed sprouts and vegetables with lemon dressing.At 10 am I have a 2 multi-grain biscuits.I have lunch at noon which consists of 1 katori mixed veg raw salad (with lemon dressing), 1 glass buttermilk, 3 small chapatti with sabji or dalia and 1 cup dal.At around 2 pm, I have 1 or 2 small roasted khakhra.At 4.30 pm, I have a protein supplement shake.At 7:00 pm, I have a cup of green teaI have dinner at 8:30 pm which includes a cup of dal-khichdi or 1bhakri and a bowl of green leafy vegetable sabji.I drink a glass of milk before retiring for the night at 11 pm.My fitness regimeI run every day for 30 minutes and have reduced my weight by 10 kilos. I play table tennis for an hour every day in the evening. I wear wide toed shoes while exercising as it reduces the chance of foot related complications.My friends and familyI'm not ashamed that I have Diabetes. In fact, all my friends and family members know that I have Diabetes. I openly discuss that I have Diabetes. I feel it helps generate awareness. If I can successfully control my blood sugar levels, then so can others. I stress that I have ensured that Diabetes does not affect my work life.Word of adviceI get a complete health check-up (including eye and foot check-up) done every 6 months to ensure that Diabetes does not affect my well-being. I cannot stress the importance of this check-up enough. It is also important to eat a balanced diet, exercise and make small changes in your day to day life.Believe in yourself. Work towards your goals and it will work out. Keep fit, stay strong mentally. Since you live only once make the most of it.
Name: Mr Jatin VoraAge: 37 yearsProfession: ArchitectThe journey so far ...Although my lifestyle is hectic I enjoy numerous sporting activities like cricket, tennis, swimming and golfing. I was overall active and enjoyed eating sweets at my will; until I was detected with Diabetes during my pre-employment health check-up at the age of 35. My blood sugar level was 175 mg/dL and my HbAlc was 7 per cent. Other than the elevated sugar and HbA 1c levels, I did not display any outward symptom of Diabetes. As all my other health parameters were within the normal range, the diabetologist started Metformin.Impact on your familyBeing diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, took a while to sink in. The most common reaction was to give up the food that we as a family enjoyed. This mixed with the anxiety regarding the complication of the disease only added to the fear. I have always had a sweet tooth and would often eat sweets every day. If you have a sweet tooth and are diagnosed with Diabetes not only does it become difficult to accommodate your new meal plan but also coming to terms with reality. My family's support here has been invaluable.My parents and I together visited a dietician who helped me formulate a meal plan which I could adhere to. The dietician suggested option to avoid repetition. I have successfully been following the diet for two years now. I make it a point to visit the dietician once every six months to discuss variations in my meal plan.My dietMy diet has changed substantially with my meals being broken down into eight portions. I have started carrying small sweets with me to avoid hypoglycaemia and appease my sweet tooth. My meals contain at least one serving of fruits or green leafy vegetables every day.At 6 am, I have a cup of green tea, 2 soaked almonds and 2 pieces' walnuts.I have my breakfast at 7 am which consists of a bowl steamed sprouts and vegetables with lemon dressing.At 10 am I have a 2 multi-grain biscuits.I have lunch at noon which consists of 1 katori mixed veg raw salad (with lemon dressing), 1 glass buttermilk, 3 small chapatti with sabji or dalia and 1 cup dal.At around 2 pm, I have 1 or 2 small roasted khakhra.At 4.30 pm, I have a protein supplement shake.At 7:00 pm, I have a cup of green teaI have dinner at 8:30 pm which includes a cup of dal-khichdi or 1bhakri and a bowl of green leafy vegetable sabji.I drink a glass of milk before retiring for the night at 11 pm.My fitness regimeI run every day for 30 minutes and have reduced my weight by 10 kilos. I play table tennis for an hour every day in the evening. I wear wide toed shoes while exercising as it reduces the chance of foot related complications.My friends and familyI'm not ashamed that I have Diabetes. In fact, all my friends and family members know that I have Diabetes. I openly discuss that I have Diabetes. I feel it helps generate awareness. If I can successfully control my blood sugar levels, then so can others. I stress that I have ensured that Diabetes does not affect my work life.Word of adviceI get a complete health check-up (including eye and foot check-up) done every 6 months to ensure that Diabetes does not affect my well-being. I cannot stress the importance of this check-up enough. It is also important to eat a balanced diet, exercise and make small changes in your day to day life.Believe in yourself. Work towards your goals and it will work out. Keep fit, stay strong mentally. Since you live only once make the most of it.
