KARACHI, July 19: Due to complexity of diabetics, its symptoms appear completely in six to eight years and when the disease is confirmed there is no other way for the patient except to opt for regular treatment and exercise, and insulin is the best medicine for diabetic patients.

This was said by eminent consultant Prof Dr Zaman Sheikh while speaking to doctors of SESSI on an ongoing training course at the institute's head office.

Dr Zaman said boiled vegetables, white meat without skin and boiled rice were a good diet for diabetics while calorie-rich fruits and vegetables, dry fruits and red meat may be harmful for them.

He rejected the notion that bitter gourd (karela) was a 'magical treatment' for diabetics, saying “one kilogram of karela contains only 500mg of Metformin.”

In fruits mangoes, papaya and grapes are harmful while grape fruit, apricot and jaman is useful, he said. He advised patients to keep away from soft drinks, as 90mg coke contained 60 calories, which was harmful for them.

He suggested olive oil and canola oil for cooking food. He also cautioned that smoking and drinking were harmful for diabetic patients.

He said such patients should adopt walking as a permanent habit, and should eat meals on time and try to avoid injuries on body, especially on feet. He said in case of any injury to feet they should immediately get proper treatment.

Prof Manzar said diabetic patients felt more thirst and hunger in quick intervals because glucose in their body got food dissolved quickly and frequency of urination also increased. He was of the view that even a healthy man should go through regular medical checkups after every three months to avoid this disease.—PPI