Diabetes is a common affliction worldwide including Kuwait. According to an estimate, around 422 million people worldwide have diabetes. The increasing number of diabetics is high in GCC countries especially in Kuwait. The study says that in 2019 Kuwait with 12.2 % of the population suffering from diabetes had the highest estimated prevalence of all the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) regions. According to IDF, in the year 2021 Kuwait is the sixth country with the highest prevalence of diabetes.
Sedentary lifestyle and eating habits are the major cause for diabetes. Obesity and an inactive lifestyle are two of the most common causes of type 2 diabetes. The study further says that these are responsible for about 90% to 95% of diabetes cases in Kuwait.
Diabetics is not only common among Kuwaitis but also among the expatriate community in Kuwait and prevalence of diabetes among expatriates are lesser when compared to Kuwaitis.
One of the major concerns of a diabetic patients is to say No to his or her favorite sweets. It is not so easy to control our taste buds and feel deprived. However, people with type 2 diabetics can also enjoy sweets and sweeten their beverages like any normal person, says Ms Ashwathi Suresh whose family-owned Lotus Limited General Trading Company has introduced “Diabliss sugar” in Kuwait. Diabliss Sugar which is made in India, is cane sugar fortified with herbal extracts of several known herbs and spices mainly fenugreek, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, fennel seeds, flax seeds and aloe vera.
“Diabetics are advised to avoid regular sugar because of its high glycemic index (GI). In simple words, the glycemic index, is a measure of how quickly a food causes our blood sugar levels to rise. The measure ranks food on a scale of zero to 100. Foods with a high glycemic index, or GI, are quickly digested and absorbed, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar. Meanwhile, foods with a low GI are digested and absorbed at a slower rate, and subsequently, cause a slower rise in blood sugar levels. These are typically rich in fiber, protein and/or fat” Ashwathi stated.
Elaborating on the Diabliss cane sugar, Ashwathi said, “Foods with a GI less than 55 are classified as Low GI Foods while foods within the range of 55-70 are called Intermediate GI foods. High GI foods are those above 70. Cane sugar has a GI of 65. However, when fortified with various herbs, the GI of cane sugar comes down between 45 to 48 making it safe for diabetics. Each herbal extract in Diabliss Sugar plays a significant role. Fenugreek helps to lower blood sugar by delaying the digestive mechanism. Cinnamon increases glycemic action through insulin mimicking action. Black pepper lowers insulin resistance while cumin stimulates insulin production and lowers insulin resistance. Fennel seeds lowers blood glucose levels by delaying absorption and flax seeds lowers blood glucose absorption while lowering inflammation. Aloe vera improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood glucose absorption.”
A study published by Dr Abdullah Al Kandari, Dr. Fahd Al Mulla and others in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in October 2020 on the prevalence of diabetes in Kuwait indicate that the majority of diabetics suffer from Type 2 Diabetes. Although diabetes has no cure, one can take steps to manage their diabetes and stay healthy. It is highly recommended for people with type 2 diabetes to eat healthy and to exercise regularly, Ashwathi emphasized.
"Here in this part of the world, sweets are a part of daily life. It is a well-known fact that sweets or bakery products made with artificial sweeteners have a poor residual after taste. While new variants of Stevia have greatly masked these after taste effects and formulators use various additives to further mask taste, imagine a diabetic eating a Baklava or an Indian Laddu made with an artificial sweetener! " says Ashwathi.
Renowned Diabetologist Dr Waleed Al Dhahi who is also a fellow of the Joslin’s Diabetes Center in Harvard University and Chief of Kuwait Diabetes Society recently stated that there are over 400,000 diabetics in Kuwait which is about 10% of the population. Ït is all the more important for a diabetic to be mentally healthy and not to be deprived of their favorite desserts. “With the introduction of Diabliss in Kuwait, people now have a choice to eat hitherto banned foods by substituting regular harmful sugar with Diabliss,” Ashwathi concluded.