Commonly, Southeast-Asians are more prone to Diabetes, which is one of the top ten killers today, reason being the shift to westernized and sedentary lifestyle - fast and junk food, motorized travel and stress.

Diabetes is a medical condition resulting from the inability of the body to properly utilize the carbohydrates we consume in our diet. There are two types of diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes affects younger patients (usually two to 30 years of age) and is the result of total absence of insulin production by the pancreas.

Type 2 diabetes usually affects patients 40 and above. In these patients insulin is produced by the pancreas, but the body does not respond to the insulin. Insulin resistance gradually develops over the years and is the result of a sedentary life style, excessive weight gain, obesity and lack of exercise.

With 50 million Type 2 cases, India is the global diabetes capital. And the numbers are rising. By 2030, this figure is expected to cross the 100-million mark. Keeping the rise of such patients in mind, World Health Organization has chosen the theme for World Health Day as Diabetes.

The matter of concern is a steady rise of Diabetes in children these days. In 2014, around 70,000 children under the age of 15 were known to be suffering from type 1 diabetes. Another 40,000 had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and this figure is growing by five percent each year.

Poor control of blood glucose leads to organ damage specially kidneys along with eyes, heart and nerves,  once they are damaged there is no chance of recovery. The diet in patients with renal failure should be restricted for protein, fruits and vegetables that contain potassium and phosphate, fluids and salt need to be measured as well depending on the blood pressure, heart condition and degree of kidney failure. As such it is advisable to have a customized diet chart prescribed as per case by case needs by the treating doctor and a dietician.

Rachna Mazumdar, Endocrinologist, Fortis Hospital Anadapur, said: “Children and obese adults should eat a balanced diet with a healthy proportion of carbs, protein, milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables. Fats and oily foods should make up only the tip of the food pyramid. The diet chart can be prescribed taking into account the age, sex, weight, BMI activity level and coexisting medical condition for a particular person by a dietician.”