Your Health is Your True Wealth

Name: Mr Rajesh Kothari Age: 63 years Profession: RetiredThe journey so far…I am a retired banker and have worked for almost 38 years in private banks. Prior to this, I was working with an American multinational company for 7 years.Although my lifestyle has been very hectic, I used to enjoy numerous sporting activities. I was overall active and enjoyed eating sweets at my will; until I was detected with Diabetes at the time of my surgery at the age of 54. .Impact on lifestyleSeven years ago, finding out I had Diabetes came as a shock. Though my brother and sister have Diabetes, they were considered to be isolated cases. I did not consider myself to have a family history of Diabetes as my parents did not have Diabetes. Once the reports came in, everyone was taken aback to discover that my post prandial sugar was 520 mg/dL. I was still firm on the wrong belief that I did not have Diabetes.After my diagnosis my family avoided going out for dinners so that I wouldn't get tempted to eat sugary food from outside. I have always had a sweet tooth and at thedrop of a hat I would sneak and eat chocolates or sweets at any odd hours. I am still learning; I am not saying it's impossible but I'm getting there at a steady pace. The most difficult part after my diagnosis is that I have to be vigilant and consume small portions of food six times a day. Also I ensure that I take my insulin before meals or before going out for dinner parties. My dietI modified my diet as per the diet chart provided to me. I strictly follow the diet chart and eat a small meal in every two hours. This has helped me maintain my HbA1c level at around 6.At six in the morning I have a cup of green tea. After a while I have one medium sized fruit or two biscuits. My lunch consists of one chappati, a bowl of vegetables followed by a small bowl of rice with dal and a bowl of salad. Around four in the afternoon, I have tea with three biscuits or two khakras. At around six, I have a medium sized fruit. My dinner which is around nine is the same as my lunch.I have been a vegetarian all my life. Also I have been asked to drink awala, jamun and karela juice by the dietician. I have been asked to avoid intake of fruits with high sugar content like chickoo, banana, mango and grapes. I take supplementary medicines of vitamins B and C, omega-3 and include methi, dhania and protein powder in my diet.My exercise routineI walk every day for 45-60 minutes and had reduced my weight by 10 kgs in the first year post diagnosis. I play table tennis every day for an hour in the evening. I wear wide toed shoes while exercising as it reduces the chance of foot related complications.My friends and familyAll my friends and family members know that I have Diabetes. They even help and encourage me to manage my condition. They are my inspiration and it is because of them that I have learnt to manage my condition with ease. They are my pillars of strength and I'm doing much better in life today because of them.Word of adviceJust because you have Diabetes does not imply that you cannot enjoy life. You just have to balance your diet, exercise and make small changes in your day to day life. Do not abstain from the little pleasures of life and do not overindulge. Enjoy everything in moderation and you will see that your life is not much different than a normal individual. Since you live only once make the most of it. I continue to lead an active life. My wife and I love to travel and as my Diabetes is under control I have the freedom to enjoy my life to the utmost.