Simple change in a child's diet like including more fenugreek, spinach and fibres in their meals can help control juvenile diabetes, according to experts.
With the cases of juvenile diabetes on the rise in metros, cutting down on junk food and following a healthy diet chart with more protein and fibre-rich food, like having methi and palak besides fibre rich dalia, to children's diet is important to keep them hale and hearty, leading doctors said.
"The problem lies as children consume junk food on a routine basis and follow an unhealthy lifestyle. They should take a balanced diet with high carbohydrates and high protein," Dr Archana Arya, child diabetes expert at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said.
The preparations made of methi like methi chicken and methi palak roti are best for diabetic children as it helps reduce blood sugar, dietician Sushmita said.
Sprouts, vegetable dalia, chappati mixed with soya flour, oat meal porridge, stuffed roti with vegetables, bajra kheer are the must haves of the children's diet chart.
"Children with diabetes need to have a balanced diet at regular intervals. Ideally the fat intake should be 20 per cent of total energy and carbohydrates intake needs to be 55 to 70 per cent of total energy," Arya said.
Outdoor activities like swimming, playing games and walking are a must for diabetic children
"Children spend more time on computers playing games, chatting or surfing which reduces the metabolic activities and leads to obesity and other disorders. They should be involved in outdoor activities and sports," Arya said.
Food prepared in poly-unsaturated fat found in olive oil, sunflower oil and corn oil are best for them.
"If unchecked, the diabetes can cause diseases related to kidney, heart and nervous system at later stage," warned Arya.
India has been designated as the 'Global Capital of Diabetes' as it has the highest number of diabetic patients 35 million.
Worldwide, 3.2 million deaths are attributed to diabetes every year and at least one in ten deaths among adults between 35 to 64 years old is attributed to diabetes.
