Make a soft gluten-free non-sticky Sabudana Khichdi, a pilaf with my mother-in-laws secret tips to make this popular snack and breakfast item.
Diabetics Awareness Campaign-Jowar Rava Upit/Upma
Since one-word Diabetics has caught up with me I plan to make Jowar Rava Upit/Upma for the Diabetics Awareness Campaign.
Some 25 years ago it was something that my father-in law’s brother suffered from. He had a very controlled diet. Beyond that, it did not exist in my dictionary.
Then in one health check-up my Father in law was diagnosed as diabetic! Now came in my world the word regulation… diet regulation. Being extremely on the thin side and wishing to put on weight this was a word unknown to me. But there were/are diet restrictions!
Yes, this is post is a part of the Diabetic Awareness Day where a group of us are getting together to spread awareness about Diabetics!
I will like to thank Swathi for giving me this opportunity for this is her brainchild.
So what is Diabetics? Who coined the word? Is it a new age disease that has come with our modern lifestyle?
Sorry, it’s not. It’s mentioned in the ancient Indian, Roman and Greek texts. Some 2500 years ago Sushruta and Charaka have named this disease as “madhu meha” or honey urine as they noted that the ants were attracted to the urine of its victims. The modern name diabetic was coined by 2nd-century physician Aretaeus from the Greek word which means syphon. Why because the disease acted like a syphon “melting flesh and limbs in urine”.
However, we had to wait till early in this century for the discovery of the hormone insulin the inadequacy of which causes Diabetics.
After each meal, the complex sugars are broken down to simple glucose. This triggers the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin ferries the glucose to the cells that make up our body. Insulin also helps burn the glucose and release energy. Now if there is insulin deficiency the cells starve as the sugar cannot be absorbed. The sugar level in the blood rise and then it is filtered out by the kidneys. This is the cause for excessive urination and sugar in the urine. Deprived of sugar and water the person is always weak, hungry and thirsty. These are the typical symptoms of Diabetics.
Anyone, even babies can suffer from Diabetics. But in middle age, a person is more prone to Diabetics. It’s called Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetics Mellitus (NIDDM). The cause of which is baffling for strangely the person has normal to high amounts of insulin in his blood stream. If you are obese beware your chances of getting Diabetics is high. Why? Because there is “insulin steal”! Find my word strange well it is the insulin is needed for fat deposition of if you are fat the fat steals the insulin depriving the cells of insulin and stage is set for Diabetics.
Heredity, do not think you inherit only eyes or nose from your family. You inherit diabetes too! So if any of your close relatives suffers from the disease take care!
You can also be suffering from Diabetics called Juvenile Diabetics or Insulin Dependent Diabetics Mellitus (IDDM). This form of Diabetics may be caused by viral infection to the pancreas of children causing damage to the insulin-producing cells and is extremely severe. The only positive thing is that since the symptoms of Diabetics occurs in initial stages unlike NIDDM and can be diagnosed.
So next time does not take the insurance evaluation lightly. 🙂
A diabetic generally has more urinary tract and skin infections. Why? Your normal body resistance is suppressed and organisms thrive in the sugar laden body.
Diet and treatment can delay the relentless march of the disease.
What harm can the dreaded disease cause?
Your arteries can be hardened with deposits and so your arteries are narrower. This can cause less supply of blood. This can result in paralytic stroke. This is called diabetic angiopathy. If the arteries of the heart are affected you can suffer from heart attack. If the arms or legs are affected then gangrene may be the reason for amputation.
The arteries of the eyes are also affected it causes deterioration of vision or even blindness. The kidneys are affected and this can result in death due to renal failure.
With the discovery of insulin, the disease is controlled for there is no cure. The treatment is prolonged. In the case of NIDDDM patients, the disease can be controlled by diet and exercise. This is especially true in the case of obese patients. but in the case of IDDM, there is a need for lifelong use of insulin.
The mainstay of treatment of Diabetics is diet and exercise. Diet wherein you just cut down on carbohydrate-rich foods will not help. It’s been proved that high carbohydrates but low-fat diet help better. Concentrated carbohydrates like sugar, sweets etc must be avoided.
The key to managing Diabetics is regular treatment and follow-up. Unfortunately, in India, we have very few Diabetics’ clinics hence the treatment is by general practitioners. Hence adequate care is unavailable as the GP themselves are unaware of the latest technologies or are too busy. There are serious complications if anti-diabetic treatment is irregular or stopped suddenly. The person can slip into a coma.
So to manage Diabetics till the implantable artificial pancreas or genetic engineering become routine practice you can
1. In case you are obese and over 35, your close relatives suffer from Diabetics get your blood sugar checked regularly.
2. Frequent wounds boils that do not heal, excessive hunger, thirst and urination. Plus you have constant fatigue as a companion then these are warning signs. Take care.
3. Follow the doctor’s advice for diet and medicine dosage. You will also need regular check-ups. Do visit him.
4. Testing blood sugar at home is very easy now. Do learn to do it.
5. Taking insulin or rather injecting insulin is also very easy now. With the advent of pens the dosage can be metered and inject yourself is a simple matter. Learn it.
6. Keep your feet especially the spaces between your toes clean and dry. You also need to wear proper footwear.
7. Carry your “Diabetic Identification Card” with you. It should have your name, address, telephone number, your doctor’s name and address, telephone numbers in your wallet.
Diabetics may sound like a death sentence but proper care and following of the rules above can help improve the quality of life.
This is the disease but then I am a foodie can I be far away from food?
Upma or Uppit with rava or bread a regular feature in my home. Upit has this new avatar. Thanks to my SIL bringing over Jowar rava.
Yes, Jowar is a very good source of low glycemic index carbohydrate. So when you eat jowar the energy is released slowly! Perfect for a diabetic!
So let’s make
Jowar Rava Upit/Upma
Ingredients:
- 1 cup jowar rava
- 1 teaspoon ghee
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- Mustard
- Hing
- Urid dal
- 2-3 Green chillies, slit
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 1 floret cauliflower, finely chopped
- 1 slice of green capsicum. chopped
- 3 cups hot water
- Salt
Method:
- In a microwave safe pan add the rava and the ghee.
- Stir well, microwave for 1 minute, stir and return to the microwave till you get an aroma. In my microwave, I need to microwave, for 3 minutes. The minimum time on mine is one minute and this works fine with me. Please check your microwave settings and adjust accordingly.
- In a kadhai/ wok heat, the oil add the mustard.
- Once the mustard splutters add the urid dal and let the dal become reddish.
- Now add the green chillies and the hing.
- Add the onions and stir-fry until translucent.
- Next, add the carrots and cauliflower and stir. (You may if you prefer to cook the carrots till they change colour. I don’t).
- Stir in the rava and the salt.
- Pour 2 ½ cups of water. Mix well. Add the remaining ½ cup of water.
- add the capsicum. ( see notes)
- Cover and steam for 5 minutes.
- Switch off the gas and let the upma stand for 5 minutes.
- Serve hot with lemon.
Notes:
- I have used only carrots and cauliflower but you can use cauliflower, corn, peas, carrots too.
- I have not used mushrooms will like to try it with them. One of my friend's mom used to make upit using prawns too! 😉 . The choice is yours.
- The capsicum we do not like them cooked so I use them in the end. You can add them with the carrots and the cauliflower if you desire.
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shama says
delicious upma
themadscientistskitchen says
Thanks Shama
swathiiyer says
Thanks Archana for joining me in creating awareness on Diabetes on this world diabetes day. Delicious and healthy recipe, yes it is hard to know that loved one have diabetes.
themadscientistskitchen says
The pleasure wall all mine. I am glad that i could reproduce most of all that I had read with a little help of course. 😉
smithakal says
very nice informative post abt the disease.. The upma is apt
themadscientistskitchen says
Thanks
raman says
Thanks for the writup, its awesome.
nayana says
a very healthy uppit, loved the idea of using jowar rawa....
savita says
Hi.
Im savita from hubli karnataka... I really liked ur suggessions on daibetics.... My husband is 37 yrs old n hes been put on aspirin after stenting for blocked LAD.
And he has a strong family history of daibeties n heart diseases...... Though he still safe from this deadly desease.....
Still i keep on surfing for the best diet for him .. is it possible to keep him away from daibeties with diet ?
Let me kno.
Im also in need to know food that can reduce his cholesterol levels......
Yhank u
Savita...