At one of our recent social gatherings, I met someone whose both legs were amputated and he walked with, not one but two, crutches. On making enquiries of him I was told that this was the result of his untreated diabetes. The encounter has been bothering me ever since and I regretted that I had consumed a fair amount of Indian sweets (mohanthar, amritpak, jalebi, ladoos etc) at a few recent Diwali parties.
To add fuel to the fire, a report published last week indicates that almost 7,000 people under the age of 25 are being treated for diabetes in England and Wales. One shudders to think what the total number including adults would be. It would not surprise me if most of these are south Asians! We know for fact that the consumption of too much sugar causes diabetes and associated health problems including kidney failure and heart problems.
We also know that eating too much salt results in high blood pressure and eventual packing up of the kidneys and other irreversible problems But we get tempted at the sight and smell of foods containing these two white poisons. Yet we consume them regardless of the consequences. Human nature being as it is we go on consuming these two white ingredients regardless of the tremendous health problems until it is too late to reverse the damages. So beware of the consequences of the consumption of these two white poisons and save those legs!
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
