Abstract

DIABETES AND DIET

*Dr. Bhawana Sharma

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia due to relative or absolute insulin deficiency. Its prevalence is increasing rapidly and has already reached an epidemic proportion in India. Each year about 17 million people die prematurely as the result of the global epidemic of larger preventable diseases or life style diseases. According to WHO, world deaths from life style diseases will double by 2015 unless all out efforts are taken to combat. Diet is an essential factor for management of diabetes. In Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, diet restriction is the first step of treatment. Diet restrict ion doesn’t mean prohibition of lots of food stuffs, but a sensible diet and understanding the concept of calorie intake according to age, sex and nature of job. It is necessary to know about the percentage energy intake of dietary constituents. In Ayurvedic text, effective drugs like Gurmar, Neem, Haridra etc. are mentioned as well as significance of diet is also described.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Insulin, Life style diseases, Gurmar, Neem, Haridra.