diabetes and Diet

Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi

One of the major functions of the pancreas is producing insulin for the human body.

Insulin consumes sweets or blood glucose and converts it into energy, but if the insulin fails to do its job, the blood sugar in the body is not converted into energy, it stores in the body and can cause diabetes. Some

diabetics who do not pay attention to their diet can face various health problems. AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients and a physician about this issue.

Sana Waziri, a resident of Paktia province says, “My uncle was suffering from diabetes and he did not take care of his diet. Finally, he passed away of diabetes.”

Fazal Rahman, a resident of Kabul city says, “It’s my fifth year of suffering from diabetes but I did not pay attention to my food, and I am suffering from a foot ulcer that could not be treated and I have already lost my eyes vision.”

Professor doctor Abdul Shakoor Husaini at Diabetes Control Center, Kabul city says, “If a diabetic does not pay attention to his/her diet, his/her diabetes might not be brought under control. He/she might suffer some heart and kidney problems. And these problems will cause hypertension, depression, losing memory and losing eyesight and ulcers in feet and the result of these problems is the death of the patient.”

What are the causes of increasing the risks of diabetes?

Fazal Rahman says, “Eating more protein-rich foods and sweets increase the risk of diabetes.”

Waheedullah Karwan, a resident of Kunduz province says, “The doctor told me that my mother eats more protein-rich foods and these foods cause hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).”

Professor Husaini says, “Some high fat and high sugar foods increase glucose and fats in the body and reduce insulin. Insulin absorbs and consumes sugars and fats in the body. If sugars and fats are not consumed or absorbed in the body, the range of sugar in blood increases and cause health problems.”

How do some diabetics take care of their diet?

Noorullah, a resident of Kunduz province says, "It’s the fifteenth year that my mother is suffering from diabetes but we take care of her food. We prevent her from eating sugar, sweets, cookies, cake, fatty foods, and mutton. We added fish and chicken to her daily foods. She mostly eats vegetables and she does regular physical exercises and her diabetes has come under control.”

Wahidullah Kamran says, “My mother is suffering from diabetes. We prepare food according to the chart given by the physician and she is better than before.”

Professor Husaini says, “Diabetics should not eat one kind of food every time. When he/she eats beans for example one time, the next time she should eat pumpkin and next she should prepare the vegetable soup. Daily walking for 30 minutes and physical exercises are playing excessive roles in this disease.”