"The idea is not to avoid sweets entirely. You have to remember that more often than not diabetes is controllable by maintaining your lifestyle than blaming it on the food," says Dietician Sushila Sharangdhar.

Sweets Are No Killers

Contrary to popular perception, sweets alone are not the culprits.

"In general during the festive season the food that we eat tends to be richer than a normal diet. So apart from binging on the sweets, eating high calorie food and a more relaxed lifestyle adds to a diabetic's woes," explains Dr. Dharmane Puranthar Diabetologist from L H Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai.

Does that mean sweets are not forbidden?

"Definitely not, unless you have severe diabetes. You can have sweets, but in moderation. And if you happened to go a little loose on binging then make up for it by cutting down on the carbohydrates," says Dr. Puranthar.

This, he insists, must be done in consultation with your dietician or your doctor. If you are a diabetic and you indulged in sweets, do not go on a crash diet, where the glucose in your blood touches a low point. You may invite more complications.

Binged? Extra Shots of Insulin?

In diabetes a person's body is either unable to produce enough insulin or does not use the available insulin effectively which causes the glucose levels in the blood to reach abnormal levels.

An instant remedy that some diabetic patients resort to is to take extra units of insulin than is required. It is advisable never to self medicate or decide your own insulin dosage.

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