Diet in Diabetes

Attempts to alleviate diabetes mellitus by diet were first made by the Egyptians as early as 3500 BC. In India, about 2500 years ago, Susruta and Charaka had recognized the importance of dietary regulation in the treatment of diabetes and many of the principles suggested by these eminent physicians hold good even today.1 In the 20th Century, prior to discovery of insulin, the treatment of diabetes mellitus included intermittent fasting, undernutrition and carbohydrate restriction. With the advent of insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs, there was tendency to prescribe liberal diets2.