Patna : Yoga and disciplined lifestyle changes can help significantly in preventing and managing diabetes, said Dr Diwakar Tejaswi, Medical Director and Senior Physician of PAHAL (Public Awareness for Healthy Approach for Living), while addressing officials of Union Bank of India at Fraser Road, Patna, during a wellness programme organised by Aastha Foundation.
Dr Tejaswi highlighted that the sedentary nature of banking jobs is contributing to a sharp rise in lifestyle diseases like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic back pain. “Simple daily adjustments like walking for 2–3 minutes every half hour, choosing home-cooked meals over processed food, and staying hydrated can drastically improve health,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of early intervention, he outlined several easy-to-follow tips:
- Have a healthy breakfast to maintain energy throughout the day
- Avoid refined and junk food
- Exercise daily—preferably yoga, brisk walking, or stretching
- Ensure 6–8 hours of sleep
- Avoid smoking and alcohol
- Manage stress through meditation, music, or hobbies
- Undergo annual health check-ups (BP, sugar, cholesterol, liver)
Tailored advice was also given to bank employees, such as doing shoulder and neck stretches during work hours, taking post-lunch walks, and keeping a water bottle at hand to maintain hydration.
Dr Tejaswi noted that diabetes can be managed effectively through lifestyle discipline. “If you’re already diabetic, avoid sugary drinks, choose lemon water or buttermilk, and consume whole grains, legumes, and fibrous vegetables,” he recommended. He also advised taking deep breaths, stretching between meetings, limiting rice intake, and prioritising dal and vegetables at lunch. Regular walking, yoga, and stress-reduction techniques like pranayama were encouraged.
“Sleep by 10 pm and monitor blood sugar regularly, especially fasting and post-meal levels. Diabetes is a lifelong condition, but with vigilance and discipline, it can be kept under full control,” he concluded.
