A few days ago, a 10-year-old boy came to the OP with severe weakness and emaciation. His mother brought him, and there was a referral note from an outside doctor. The complaints were fatigue, thirst, and weight loss. The doctor suspected something was wrong and checked his sugar levels, which were 600mg%! This is how he arrived with a referral.
It was heartbreaking to see him in such a wasted condition. Unfortunately, he would need to take insulin injections for the rest of his life. There is no other option for type 1 diabetes in children. Before explaining about insulin injections, I first explained the positive changes he would experience with treatment. His fatigue would improve, and he would become healthier and stronger. This brought joy to his mother. However, when I mentioned insulin injections, the expression on her face changed immediately. Then came the questions: "Can't we just take pills? Is there any other form of treatment? Will giving insulin to such a young child cause harm?" I patiently answered all her doubts. I explained that there is no effective treatment for type 1 diabetes other than insulin injections. I made her aware that there is no other way, and they left after starting insulin.
After some time, I did not see them in the OP. Several months later, they came back, and there was no change in the child’s appearance. He still looked emaciated. As I had assumed, he had not started insulin. When I asked where they had been, they had tried homeopathy, Ayurveda, tribal medicine, and other local treatments. Although I felt angry, I remained silent, remembering the child’s condition. Now, after realizing there was no other option, they had returned for insulin treatment. Things went smoothly this time, and the child was now receiving insulin correctly, which led to his improvement. His mother was happy to see the positive changes.
Now, let me share another interesting story. A woman with type 2 diabetes came with a sugar level of 500mg%. She had been using homeopathy treatment. For the last few months, her sugar levels had been fluctuating between 400 and 500mg%. She had avoided taking English medicine due to the side effects and had been trying other treatments. Only when she was too weak to even stand did she decide to seek proper treatment. After starting the treatment, her sugar levels came back to normal in a few weeks. She continued visiting regularly for a few months. Then, she disappeared from the OP. Months later, when she came back, her sugar was again 700mg%. She had stopped all medication and had been visiting a famous acupuncture center in Coimbatore. She had been going there weekly, getting acupuncture, but the most interesting part was that one of the main instructions given at the center was not to check her sugar levels. They said that if she checked her sugar levels, the treatment would not be effective. After a few days, when her fatigue increased, she checked her sugar levels, which had risen to 600mg%. She immediately called the center in Coimbatore, and they replied, “Don’t worry about the sugar levels; even if they go up due to acupuncture, it won’t affect your body.”
These are the same kinds of fraudulent schemes that people fall for in our society, hoping to make easy money through lotteries or similar scams. In our region, although diabetes is very common, people’s knowledge about it is still quite limited. There are numerous misconceptions about the disease. Understanding some basic facts about diabetes can help control the disease in the right way and avoid falling for misleading advertisements and treatments.
Diabetes exists in several forms, and in this article, I will mainly talk about Type 2 diabetes, which is most commonly seen in adults. When we eat food, after digestion, glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream. Not only sugar but all foods turn into glucose after digestion and then enter the bloodstream. Glucose, which enters the blood after digestion, is used by the cells for their functioning. Any excess glucose is stored in various parts of the body in different forms. Insulin is the hormone that helps manage glucose in the body. Insulin is produced in the pancreas, located in the abdomen.
In type 1 diabetes, insulin production in the pancreas is completely absent.
Diabetes found in young children falls under Type 1 diabetes. In such individuals, the glucose produced from the digestion of food cannot be utilized by the cells in the body. Therefore, the level of glucose in the blood becomes very high. The only treatment for such patients is insulin injections. However, in Type 2 diabetes, which is typically seen in adults, the pancreas produces insulin, but the body cannot use it effectively. This condition is called insulin resistance. Over time, as the disease progresses, the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin also decreases. In short, Type 2 diabetes is a condition characterized by both insulin resistance and reduced or absent insulin production.
In a person without diabetes, even if the amount of glucose in their food increases, the pancreas can produce more insulin accordingly. As a result, the glucose levels in the blood remain normal. However, in a diabetic person, if they consume a larger amount of food, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to manage the increased glucose in the blood. This leads to an elevated blood glucose level. The advice given by doctors to reduce the amount of food consumed and avoid sweets is based on the need to lower the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream so that the pancreas, which is not functioning optimally, can manage it effectively. When the pancreas loses its ability to manage the glucose in normal food, a person develops diabetes. Now, imagine what would happen if a diabetic person consumes sweets, like laddus, which contain a much higher amount of glucose. This is why giving laddus as a "treatment" for diabetes is not only foolish but also a trap to mislead people.
Many people mistakenly believe that diabetes can be managed by just taking a few pills or insulin injections. When patients with uncontrolled diabetes are questioned about their food habits, it becomes evident why their sugar levels are not reducing. Many are unwilling to reduce the amount of food they eat or cut down on sweets. They also do not exercise. Unfortunately, many people fail to realize that controlling diabetes requires addressing these basic factors. If a person is not willing to control their food intake, avoid sweets, or exercise, spending money on diabetes medications is futile.
The first step in treating Type 2 diabetes is to reduce the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream. This can be achieved by reducing food intake and avoiding sweets. The second step is to improve the body's ability to use insulin (i.e., overcoming insulin resistance), which can be achieved through exercise. By following these two preventive measures, blood sugar can be controlled over months or even years.
However, diabetes is a progressive disease that worsens over time. As the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin decrease, the ability to control blood sugar diminishes. At this stage, medication is necessary. Even when medication is started, it is crucial to continue controlling food intake and exercising. Diabetes is not a disease that can be controlled forever through food regulation and exercise alone. If sugar levels continue to rise despite medication, it can lead to severe complications. Therefore, when medication becomes necessary, it must be used alongside lifestyle modifications, and sugar levels must be kept under control to prevent serious health issues.
What type of food should a diabetic patient consume?
There is still a misconception in society that only rice contains sugar, and foods like wheat, ragi, and oats can be consumed freely. Regardless of the type, all these foods are processed by the body into glucose. The glucose content in chapati made from wheat flour and dosa made from rice flour is almost the same. However, wheat has some advantages over rice. Rice is digested very quickly, and the glucose in it rapidly enters the bloodstream. A diabetic patient's pancreas is not capable of handling the sudden influx of glucose. On the other hand, foods like wheat and oats are comparatively slower to digest, which means the glucose they produce enters the bloodstream more gradually. Foods that release glucose gradually in stages are easier for a diabetic patient's pancreas to handle.
One can think of the pancreas as their army and glucose as the enemy. It's easier to defeat a small group of enemies (glucose) than a large army. Therefore, the quantity of food consumed is more important than whether it is rice or wheat. Reducing the amount of food and consuming it in smaller portions multiple times a day is better.
Vegetables and leafy greens should be included more in the diet. Similarly, pulses (such as small beans, chickpeas, green peas, soybeans) should also be part of the diet. These foods do not significantly increase the blood sugar levels and help curb hunger quickly. The fiber content in vegetables and pulses slows down digestion and helps lower glucose and cholesterol levels. They are excellent for satisfying hunger and promoting good digestion.
Foods high in fat, especially those fried or cooked in oil, slow down insulin activity in the body. In short, foods that are high in fat but low in sugar also raise blood sugar levels.
The question of whether diabetics can eat fruits is a common concern. If diabetes is under control, small amounts of fruits can be consumed. Apples, apricots, pears, oranges, musambi, pears, plums, and small pieces of jackfruit and tender coconut are generally low in glucose load. One fruit from the list can be consumed each day. Dried raisins, bananas, jackfruit, mangoes, and other high-glucose-load fruits should be avoided.
Do diabetes medications affect kidney function?
This is a major concern for many diabetic patients. Due to misconceptions, many turn to alternative treatments, driven by unfounded fears. Some believe that diabetes medications harm the kidneys because they see others with kidney issues. Unfortunately, many people still believe this despite scientific evidence to the contrary. No medication used in diabetes treatment causes harm to the kidneys. On the contrary, uncontrolled sugar levels damage the kidneys. Diabetes, like a disease that eats away at various organs, also affects the kidneys. Diabetics who manage their condition under the guidance of an expert from the beginning need not worry about kidney problems.
Is it safer for kidneys to avoid pills and take insulin instead?
Except in some specific situations, there is not much difference between pills and insulin. If diabetes is properly managed with pills, there is no need to switch to insulin. However, if diabetes is not controlled with pills, insulin should not be delayed.
 

A few days ago, a 10-year-old boy came to the OP with severe weakness and emaciation. His mother brought him, and there was a referral note from an outside doctor. The complaints were fatigue, thirst, and weight loss. The doctor suspected something was wrong and checked his sugar levels, which were 600mg%! This is how he arrived with a referral.
It was heartbreaking to see him in such a wasted condition. Unfortunately, he would need to take insulin injections for the rest of his life. There is no other option for type 1 diabetes in children. Before explaining about insulin injections, I first explained the positive changes he would experience with treatment. His fatigue would improve, and he would become healthier and stronger. This brought joy to his mother. However, when I mentioned insulin injections, the expression on her face changed immediately. Then came the questions: "Can't we just take pills? Is there any other form of treatment? Will giving insulin to such a young child cause harm?" I patiently answered all her doubts. I explained that there is no effective treatment for type 1 diabetes other than insulin injections. I made her aware that there is no other way, and they left after starting insulin.
After some time, I did not see them in the OP. Several months later, they came back, and there was no change in the child’s appearance. He still looked emaciated. As I had assumed, he had not started insulin. When I asked where they had been, they had tried homeopathy, Ayurveda, tribal medicine, and other local treatments. Although I felt angry, I remained silent, remembering the child’s condition. Now, after realizing there was no other option, they had returned for insulin treatment. Things went smoothly this time, and the child was now receiving insulin correctly, which led to his improvement. His mother was happy to see the positive changes.
Now, let me share another interesting story. A woman with type 2 diabetes came with a sugar level of 500mg%. She had been using homeopathy treatment. For the last few months, her sugar levels had been fluctuating between 400 and 500mg%. She had avoided taking English medicine due to the side effects and had been trying other treatments. Only when she was too weak to even stand did she decide to seek proper treatment. After starting the treatment, her sugar levels came back to normal in a few weeks. She continued visiting regularly for a few months. Then, she disappeared from the OP. Months later, when she came back, her sugar was again 700mg%. She had stopped all medication and had been visiting a famous acupuncture center in Coimbatore. She had been going there weekly, getting acupuncture, but the most interesting part was that one of the main instructions given at the center was not to check her sugar levels. They said that if she checked her sugar levels, the treatment would not be effective. After a few days, when her fatigue increased, she checked her sugar levels, which had risen to 600mg%. She immediately called the center in Coimbatore, and they replied, “Don’t worry about the sugar levels; even if they go up due to acupuncture, it won’t affect your body.”
These are the same kinds of fraudulent schemes that people fall for in our society, hoping to make easy money through lotteries or similar scams. In our region, although diabetes is very common, people’s knowledge about it is still quite limited. There are numerous misconceptions about the disease. Understanding some basic facts about diabetes can help control the disease in the right way and avoid falling for misleading advertisements and treatments.
Diabetes exists in several forms, and in this article, I will mainly talk about Type 2 diabetes, which is most commonly seen in adults. When we eat food, after digestion, glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream. Not only sugar but all foods turn into glucose after digestion and then enter the bloodstream. Glucose, which enters the blood after digestion, is used by the cells for their functioning. Any excess glucose is stored in various parts of the body in different forms. Insulin is the hormone that helps manage glucose in the body. Insulin is produced in the pancreas, located in the abdomen.
In type 1 diabetes, insulin production in the pancreas is completely absent.
Diabetes found in young children falls under Type 1 diabetes. In such individuals, the glucose produced from the digestion of food cannot be utilized by the cells in the body. Therefore, the level of glucose in the blood becomes very high. The only treatment for such patients is insulin injections. However, in Type 2 diabetes, which is typically seen in adults, the pancreas produces insulin, but the body cannot use it effectively. This condition is called insulin resistance. Over time, as the disease progresses, the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin also decreases. In short, Type 2 diabetes is a condition characterized by both insulin resistance and reduced or absent insulin production.
In a person without diabetes, even if the amount of glucose in their food increases, the pancreas can produce more insulin accordingly. As a result, the glucose levels in the blood remain normal. However, in a diabetic person, if they consume a larger amount of food, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to manage the increased glucose in the blood. This leads to an elevated blood glucose level. The advice given by doctors to reduce the amount of food consumed and avoid sweets is based on the need to lower the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream so that the pancreas, which is not functioning optimally, can manage it effectively. When the pancreas loses its ability to manage the glucose in normal food, a person develops diabetes. Now, imagine what would happen if a diabetic person consumes sweets, like laddus, which contain a much higher amount of glucose. This is why giving laddus as a "treatment" for diabetes is not only foolish but also a trap to mislead people.
Many people mistakenly believe that diabetes can be managed by just taking a few pills or insulin injections. When patients with uncontrolled diabetes are questioned about their food habits, it becomes evident why their sugar levels are not reducing. Many are unwilling to reduce the amount of food they eat or cut down on sweets. They also do not exercise. Unfortunately, many people fail to realize that controlling diabetes requires addressing these basic factors. If a person is not willing to control their food intake, avoid sweets, or exercise, spending money on diabetes medications is futile.
The first step in treating Type 2 diabetes is to reduce the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream. This can be achieved by reducing food intake and avoiding sweets. The second step is to improve the body's ability to use insulin (i.e., overcoming insulin resistance), which can be achieved through exercise. By following these two preventive measures, blood sugar can be controlled over months or even years.
However, diabetes is a progressive disease that worsens over time. As the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin decrease, the ability to control blood sugar diminishes. At this stage, medication is necessary. Even when medication is started, it is crucial to continue controlling food intake and exercising. Diabetes is not a disease that can be controlled forever through food regulation and exercise alone. If sugar levels continue to rise despite medication, it can lead to severe complications. Therefore, when medication becomes necessary, it must be used alongside lifestyle modifications, and sugar levels must be kept under control to prevent serious health issues.
What type of food should a diabetic patient consume?
There is still a misconception in society that only rice contains sugar, and foods like wheat, ragi, and oats can be consumed freely. Regardless of the type, all these foods are processed by the body into glucose. The glucose content in chapati made from wheat flour and dosa made from rice flour is almost the same. However, wheat has some advantages over rice. Rice is digested very quickly, and the glucose in it rapidly enters the bloodstream. A diabetic patient's pancreas is not capable of handling the sudden influx of glucose. On the other hand, foods like wheat and oats are comparatively slower to digest, which means the glucose they produce enters the bloodstream more gradually. Foods that release glucose gradually in stages are easier for a diabetic patient's pancreas to handle.
One can think of the pancreas as their army and glucose as the enemy. It's easier to defeat a small group of enemies (glucose) than a large army. Therefore, the quantity of food consumed is more important than whether it is rice or wheat. Reducing the amount of food and consuming it in smaller portions multiple times a day is better.
Vegetables and leafy greens should be included more in the diet. Similarly, pulses (such as small beans, chickpeas, green peas, soybeans) should also be part of the diet. These foods do not significantly increase the blood sugar levels and help curb hunger quickly. The fiber content in vegetables and pulses slows down digestion and helps lower glucose and cholesterol levels. They are excellent for satisfying hunger and promoting good digestion.
Foods high in fat, especially those fried or cooked in oil, slow down insulin activity in the body. In short, foods that are high in fat but low in sugar also raise blood sugar levels.
The question of whether diabetics can eat fruits is a common concern. If diabetes is under control, small amounts of fruits can be consumed. Apples, apricots, pears, oranges, musambi, pears, plums, and small pieces of jackfruit and tender coconut are generally low in glucose load. One fruit from the list can be consumed each day. Dried raisins, bananas, jackfruit, mangoes, and other high-glucose-load fruits should be avoided.
Do diabetes medications affect kidney function?
This is a major concern for many diabetic patients. Due to misconceptions, many turn to alternative treatments, driven by unfounded fears. Some believe that diabetes medications harm the kidneys because they see others with kidney issues. Unfortunately, many people still believe this despite scientific evidence to the contrary. No medication used in diabetes treatment causes harm to the kidneys. On the contrary, uncontrolled sugar levels damage the kidneys. Diabetes, like a disease that eats away at various organs, also affects the kidneys. Diabetics who manage their condition under the guidance of an expert from the beginning need not worry about kidney problems.
Is it safer for kidneys to avoid pills and take insulin instead?
Except in some specific situations, there is not much difference between pills and insulin. If diabetes is properly managed with pills, there is no need to switch to insulin. However, if diabetes is not controlled with pills, insulin should not be delayed.