Of people, things, generations and more during my morning walk....

Since being officially diagnosed as a "sweet person" aka diabetic, one thing I have been stickler about is a decent 5 km morning walk...I'd like to add rain or shine, pan sadhya punya madhe, "Ye re ye re pausa" situation aaslya mule, just shine!!!

I set my mood right by loading the ipod playlists with Mangeshkar to Bhosale to PL Deshpande to Sonu Nigam to Rafi to Kishor Kumar to Yo Yo Honey Singh :-)) Unhh Unhh, I must confess, walking on the beat of, " Char Bottle Vodka" at 6.30 am is not always a bad thing!!! Now some readers may want to kill me for even typing his name on the same line as the other legendary musicians, so my apologies...but in the end whatever gets me going, right? 

Anyhow, while I walk I come across so many strangers who now seem like unspoken friends, same recognisable faces at same spots and turns. What has become more and more obvious in my interpretations is the generation gap and how we techno-savvy people are really changing for the worst!!!! Let me tell you why….

I see many disciplined old couples going for a refreshing morning stroll. I meet one Aji Ajoba (grandma, grandpa) daily. Ajoba is tidily dressed, aged gracefully with silver hair combed neatly…portraying his years of experience…while Aji is sweet and comfortable in her cotton salwar also dressed meticulously and gives a broad smile each day we cross paths. I reckon they are in their late 70s…but nothing softens my heart like the sight of the handsome old man holding his wife’s hand as they cross the Baner road at MyWorld…simply a nourishing sight!

And then there are the sport model wannabes…with their fancy sporty attire and shoes and colourful headbands…one wonders are they out to get a good morning run or to model their branded sports wear…its amusing!!

On the other hand, I see many many groups of mums and their kids also waiting at the bus stop for the school bus to come. From their uniforms, I can tell they go to some up-market international schools. What is appalling is that all the kids are standing with smart phones in their hands, crushing candy or playing angry birds without interacting with each other. When I went to school, my friends at the bus stop and I wouldn't stop talking with each other after reaching school…and even in the classroom Ahem!!

How unfortunate can it get? Kids, with their heads buried in phone, who can't be bothered to look up and say a good morning let alone smile????

It made me feel disappointed and concerned at the same time and I just couldn't stop thinking, will these kids grow up to be the old together and turn into the gentle and caring ajoba who hold’s ajis hand while crossing a busy road??

Is this a dream for todays generation?

My Aaji, Ayurveda and Diabetese...

Ayurveda and Diabetes

Ayurveda has always been close to my heart. The immense faith and love for Ayurveda was fostered by my sweetest Aji (grandmother) who also was the daughter of an “ayurvedic Vaidya” in small city of Chiplun along the Konkan coast.

For every symptom / illness anyone complained of, she had an all natural remedy to suggest.  . As kids we never went to a doctor for anything. She always had her small pitara (treasure box) of her magical medications that just made us feel better. I think the real secret was in the warmth of her loving hand stroking my hair or face when she applied fever or headache medication on my forehead. But mind you, her medicines may sound ancient, but she was the most progressive grandmother I have met. An expert home maker, a Annapurna and a firm believer of, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, just don’t say it”. She brought us up with these values which I sincerely wish I didn’t forget from time to time. A short sweet lady who embodies love and how I wish she was around today like she did whenever I needed her in my forming years….

I hope to make a diary of all her medications for various illness and hope to publish it some day. But in the mean time, here is my first set of blogs Aaji, in your memory. I know you are watching from up there and I want you to know that my belief in Ayurveda still exists and I have the conviction to support my diabetes treatment with the natural remedies, just like how you would have wanted me too. 

My Aaji, Neela Chitale.

A Sugarfree Sweet Life

A Sugarfree Sweet Life

I had always heard that life really changes when you turn 40, of course I never believed it until it happened to me!!! Sept 2013, I turned 40 and a switch went OFF…..things just started to change, heels started to hurt, hunger pangs, blurry vision and on and on….I procrastinated seeing a doctor for almost 6 months and finally I did…What a rude awakening that was, sugar levels of 400, Holy cow!!!!

I like to believe I am a sweet person, but don’t want to be this sweet either J It just doesn’t fit well with my “ Kokanastha Brahmin” tag! Once I read the reports, the sugar in my blood translated into buckets of salty tears….Being a gestational diabetic thru’ both my pregnancies, and a family history of diabetes, I always knew that I am future candidate for this condition which millions suffer from, but I didn’t expect it at 40! Honestly speaking, having home help in India and an academy to establish and run did play a small role in me ignoring my food and exercise habits… Needles to say, I have simply embraced the world of insulin needles and exercise and carb-controlled diet….

Chris, my life support has been a great husband and kept my spirits high to tackle this. My kids have started to remind me, Mom don’t eat this and that and even have been courteous by choosing a banana over an apple from the fruit basket, as I am not allowed to eat bananas. I must say am fortunate to have all this support and a great doctor to take me to a life without needles…

The chef in me is now challenged to create unique and easy diabetic friendly Indian recipes and hence this blog to help me document my journey dealing with diabetes, create awareness and to help others like me to manage this condition…. I am really looking at diabetes as a catalyst to healthier, happier and sugar free sweet life.