‘Awareness on diabetes remission crucial’

Thiruvananthapuram: Diabetes, often viewed as a deadly disease which can only be controlled, can be reversed with appropriate weight loss, says Dr Roy Taylor, a pioneer of the ‘diabetes remission’ concept.He was speaking at a conference organized by the Academy of Medical Specialities under the Indian Medical Association and Dr Sreejith N Kumar’s Diabetes Care Centre on Monday. “Type-2 diabetes caused due to excess fat in the liver can be reversed by taking up a low-calorie diet and reducing the body weight by 10%. It is not as difficult as it seems and is practical. Patients feel 10 years’ younger and enjoy a diabetes-free life,” he said. Proper public health awareness should be made, highlighting the dangers of excess body fat. This is not about body size, as people are built differently, but this is about moving towards a belief that it’s healthy to stay the weight one has at the age of growing up, he said.“Exercise too is not a great way of losing weight after a certain age. This is because compensatory eating renders exercise counterproductive during the weight-loss period,” he added. “With Dr Roy’s visit to India and through his interaction with the doctors on strategies for diabetes remission in our state, the concept is gaining much more prominence here. What we need is increased awareness among the medical community and the general public that this is viable. The biggest culprits in our case are rice and wheat, which can be replaced with vegetables. Low-glycemic index fruits like apples, oranges, pears and guavas can be consumed,” said Dr Sreejith S N.