Friday, January 8, 2010

Diabetes and Lohri

Lohri is celebrated all over North India with great enthusiasm. It is a celebration of Truth and Justice as also time to celebrate harvest. Lohri coincides with the coldest period of winters.

A celebration by all means for all Diabetics as well. Even before the day ( or rather) night of Lohri lots of sweets are consumed- Patti, gajjaks are caramalized Sugar or jaggery with roasted ground nuts, til- sesame seeds and other spices and seeds. Most of the Indian diabetics are suffering from Diabetes type 2, most of the gajjaks are high in calories and contain sucrose. They would cause sudden rise in blood sugar levels, Persons with Diabetes or prediabetes are advised to restrain themselves from consuming sweet patti's or gajjaks. As the tradition has it- People gather around a pyre, Sing dance and enjoy...feasting on groundnuts with pattis, rewari's or popcorns while occasionally throwing then in the fire symbolically.
Diabetes comes no way in dampening Festive spirits ... make a wise choice Groundnuts, Popcorns would not raise blood sugar, they can be eaten normally. Avoid lot of sweets- gajjaks even though they may be made of jaggery which most of the people do not consider to be Sugar it contains almost as much calories as table sugar.
Wishing you all a Happy Lohri and Winter Festivals
Dr Rajesh Kesari