Managing Diabetes During Holidays, Festivals and Travel

   

 

My parents are both diabetic, and they need to adhere to the doctor's advice. They need to follow certain daily routines and stay on track during holidays, festivals and travel too. After all, diabetes management is not something we can take a break from just because we are on holiday or celebrating a festival!

Our doctor always insists on three things every day — Walk, Water and Watch.

The Three Ws

1. Walk

Go for a walk in the morning and evening. Wherever you go on holiday or travel, take time for walking during the day and evening. If adjustments are needed, choose convenient times, but don't miss walking. Walking is a simple daily routine that can help people manage their blood glucose levels and stay active. However, the duration and intensity should suit the person's age, health and physical ability.

2. Water

Have water regularly throughout the day. Carry water bottles and keep them near you so that you can have water regularly. At night too, keep water near your bed. Staying hydrated is important, particularly when travelling or spending time outdoors. Follow the doctor's advice on fluid intake if there are other medical conditions that require restrictions. 

3.Watch

Watch comedy on TV or OTT and be watchful with your diet. Watch shows that make you laugh seriously, till you feel the joy. This will indirectly lower your stress levels. As stress can affect blood glucose levels, so people with diabetes need to manage their stress and find ways to relax.

A good laugh can help us relax and feel better. Holidays and festivals should be happy occasions, and taking time to enjoy a favourite comedy show can be a simple way to unwind. After all, festivals and holidays are meant to bring joy, not stress!

Our doctor says that if you don't follow these three Ws, even medicines won't work. The three Ws are a reminder that managing diabetes involves more than just taking medicines. Then come the medicines, which must be taken as advised by the doctor.

Watch Your Diet During Festivals and Travel

Portion control and protein intake are the ones mainly stressed for my parents. Being pure vegetarians, green leafy vegetables, pulses, sambar and sundal made with soaked legumes were suggested. Mainly, portion control and eating on time are important. Have small, frequent meals if advised, and don't skip breakfast or other meals.

During festivals, have sweets and snacks in limited portions. During travel too, opt for fruits, dry fruits and healthy snacks. As rice is our staple food in South India, portion control is the main thing. Including more vegetables, dal, nuts and legumes makes the meal filling.

Festivals bring with them a variety of sweets, savouries and special meals. It is difficult to avoid all our traditional delicacies, nor should every celebration become a source of worry. Being mindful of portions and following the doctor's dietary advice can help us enjoy festive food more responsibly.

When travelling, it is useful to carry suitable snacks instead of depending entirely on what is available along the way. Keeping meal timings as regular as possible can also help. The idea is not to miss out on the fun but to enjoy food in moderation while taking care of our health.

FreeStyle Libre: Keeping Track While Enjoying Life

Along with the three Ws — Walk, Water and Watch — keeping track of blood glucose levels is important for people with diabetes. During holidays, festivals and travel, our usual routines may change, and we may eat different foods or at different times.

This is where FreeStyle Libre, a continuous glucose monitoring system, can be helpful. It measures glucose in the fluid beneath the skin and provides information about glucose levels and trends. Depending on the device and individual circumstances, it can reduce the need for frequent finger-prick tests, although finger-prick testing may still be necessary in certain situations.

However, is FreeStyle Libre suitable for everyone with diabetes, particularly older adults?

My family's experience

My parents are both diabetic, but they manage their condition with tablets, diet and walking, without insulin. Their doctor has not advised them to use FreeStyle Libre. They continue to follow the doctor's advice and their daily routines. One of our relatives was initially advised to use FreeStyle Libre. However, considering their age and other health conditions, its use was later discontinued after other factors were taken into account.

This made me realise that what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.

Even when a device is approved for use by older adults, that does not mean it is necessary or suitable for every individual. Age, other medical conditions, the type of diabetes treatment, ease of using the device, skin comfort and individual monitoring needs all have to be considered.

For people aged 75 and above, the decision to use FreeStyle Libre should be made in consultation with their treating doctor. The doctor can assess whether continuous glucose monitoring would be beneficial and practical for the individual. We need to exercise care and caution rather than simply adopting new technology because it is available. If the device is prescribed, it should be used according to the doctor's instructions.

Technology can support diabetes management, but it does not replace prescribed medicines, appropriate food choices, physical activity or regular medical follow-ups.

Enjoy Your Holidays, Festivals and Travel

Festivals, holidays and travel are times to enjoy with family and friends. But when parents are diabetic, we need to ensure that their daily routines are followed even during these occasions.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Walk in the morning and evening, adjusting the timings to suit the day's plans and physical ability.
• Drink water regularly, following the doctor's advice.
• Watch comedy or enjoy other relaxing activities to help manage stress.
• Be watchful with food, practise portion control and eat on time.
• Carry fruits, dry fruits and suitable snacks while travelling.
• Take medicines as prescribed and continue recommended glucose monitoring.
• Consult the doctor before making changes to the diabetes management routine or introducing a monitoring device.

The three Ws our doctor insists on — Walk, Water and Watch — are simple reminders to stay mindful of our health. Then come the medicines, as prescribed by the doctor.

Managing diabetes is a daily responsibility, but it need not take away the joy of celebrating festivals, visiting relatives or travelling to new places. With thoughtful planning, appropriate food choices and medical guidance, we can make these occasions enjoyable for everyone in the family. Follow the three Ws, take medicines as advised, practise portion control and eat on time. Let's make our festivals, travels and holidays enjoyable while taking care of our parents' health!

( This article shares personal family experiences and general information. Diabetes management needs vary from person to person. Consult the treating doctor for individual advice on diet, exercise, medicines and glucose monitoring, including the suitability of FreeStyle Libre.)

Disclaimer: This article has been written as part of an awareness initiative by Blogchatter and reflects the author’s personal views. It is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Please consult your doctor for advice specific to your individual health needs.

THE COW

 

A poem on cow - an animal which is found  every where these days in Chennai.  Our sacred , milk giving, cow -The Go matha is well presented in this poem.

Read and enjoy this poem. If possible read it along with children and try to recite it loudly. 

That will fetch you a different  kind of joy.

Happy poetry time!

World Dyslexia Awareness Day: Let Every Child Enjoy What They Love

   

“Let children with dyslexia too enjoy what they love. Let their interests, imagination and strengths have a place alongside their challenges.”

October 8 is World Dyslexia Awareness Day. We often talk about what children with dyslexia find difficult. Reading, Spelling, Writing and Keeping up with classroom work. But perhaps we should also ask a different question:

What do they love?

Do they love listening to stories? Drawing? Building things? Music? Dance? Animals? Sports? Puzzles? Cooking? Making things with their hands? Then let us give them the space to enjoy those things. A child should not be defined only by what he or she finds difficult.

Different ways of learning

Dyslexia is a learning difference that can affect reading, writing and spelling. But children with dyslexia are not all alike, and difficulty in one area does not mean a lack of curiosity, creativity or ability. Sometimes a child who struggles to read a page may happily listen to an entire story. A child who finds spelling difficult may have wonderful ideas to express. A child who does not enjoy conventional classroom exercises may be completely absorbed when drawing, creating, playing or exploring.

The way a child learns may be different. The joy of learning should not be taken away.

As a blogger, what can I do?

I may not be a teacher, therapist or specialist. But I am a blogger. And a blogger has something powerful — a space to speak, share and start conversations.

So, on World Dyslexia Awareness Day, perhaps my contribution can begin with these simple questions:

Are we listening to children? Are we noticing what they are good at? Are we giving them enough opportunities to enjoy learning in their own way? Are we celebrating their interests instead of constantly reminding them about their difficulties?

I can use my blog to create awareness without making a child feel like a problem that needs to be fixed. I can share stories, books, activities, resources and experiences that encourage inclusive reading. I can recommend children's books that can be enjoyed through listening, looking, discussing and storytelling, not only through independent reading. And I can remind parents, teachers and other adults that encouragement matters.

Let books be a source of joy

As someone who writes about books, this is especially close to me. Reading should not become a source of fear simply because a child reads differently.

Let us read aloud. Let children listen to audiobooks. Let them look at illustrations. Let them talk about a story. Let them retell it in their own words. Let them draw their favourite character. Let them act out a scene. Let them choose a book because the subject interests them. And most importantly: Let us not make every reading experience a test.

Sometimes a book can simply be a book. A story can simply be a story. And reading can simply be joy.

Who should we address?

This message is not meant only for parents.

It belongs to all of us.

To parents:
Notice your child's interests and strengths. Encourage them without comparing them with other children.

To teachers:
Create opportunities for children to participate in different ways. A child's contribution need not always come through writing a perfect answer.

To librarians and reading communities:
Make reading spaces welcoming and inclusive. Encourage children to explore stories in ways that work for them.

To authors and publishers:
Continue creating diverse, engaging and accessible reading experiences for children.

To bloggers and content creators:
Talk about dyslexia responsibly. Share awareness, useful resources and positive stories rather than stereotypes.

To all of us:
Be patient. Listen. Encourage. Never make a child feel less capable because their learning journey looks different.

And what can I do through my blog?

Perhaps my contribution need not be huge. It can begin with one blogpost. One book recommendation. One story shared with a parent. One activity suggested to a teacher. One child encouraged to pursue something they love. One conversation started. One misconception corrected. That is also awareness. And if my words reach even one parent or teacher and make them pause and think differently about a child, the post has served a purpose.

A small message for every child

Dear child,

You don't have to love everything that everyone else loves. You don't have to learn exactly the way everyone else learns. You don't have to be good at everything.

Find what makes you curious. Find what makes you happy. Find what makes you want to learn more. And please don't stop enjoying it. Because your difficulties are only one part of your story. They are not the whole story.

This World Dyslexia Awareness Day

Let us move beyond “What can't this child do?”

and ask: “What does this child love to do?” Then let us help them do more of it.

Let every child with dyslexia discover, enjoy and celebrate what they love.

That could be our message this World Dyslexia Awareness Day.

Five Cookbooks That Stayed With Me

As a blogger since 2016, I have come across many cookbooks. Some were interesting for a while, some gave me ideas for a post, and some were simply books I read and moved on from. But every now and then, a cookbook stays with you.

Not necessarily because it has the most recipes. Not because it is the biggest or most beautifully photographed. Sometimes, it is because the book has a very clear idea of what it wants to say—and says it exceptionally well.

Over the years, through my reading and reviewing journey, I have come across five such cookbooks. Interestingly, all five came to me through NetGalley, and I had the opportunity to read and review each of them. At first glance, they could all be placed under the broad label of cookbooks. But that is where the similarity ends. Each one has its own personality, purpose and approach to food.

1. A book inspired by Chinese bakery — Moon Cakes and Milk Bread by Kristina Cho

This was one of those books that introduced me to a world of baking that felt different from the usual cookbook experience. Moon cakes and milk bread, inspired by Chinese bakery traditions, brought together recipes and ideas that made me look at baking from another cultural perspective.

What stayed with me was not merely the recipes. It was the concept behind the book—the way a particular bakery tradition, its flavours and its techniques could be presented through a cookbook. Food becomes a wonderful way of travelling without actually travelling. And sometimes, a cookbook can take you to another part of the world simply by opening its pages.

2. The Southern Living Party Cookbook: A Modern Guide to Gathering by Elizabeth Heiskell

This book moved beyond the idea of what to cook and concentrated on how to gather. Elizabeth Heiskell's The Southern Living Party Cookbook: A Modern Guide to Gathering looks at food in the context of occasions, people and togetherness. That distinction made the book memorable for me.

A party is not simply a collection of dishes placed on a table. There is planning, presentation, hospitality and, most importantly, the people who sit together and share the food. The cookbook therefore felt like a guide to creating an experience around food, rather than merely following recipes.

3. The Essential Cook's Kitchen by Alison Walker

Some cookbooks impress you through a particular theme. Others appeal because they are useful. The Essential Cook's Kitchen by Alison Walker belongs to the latter category for me.

It reminded me that cooking is not always about elaborate recipes or special occasions. A good kitchen also depends on understanding ingredients, methods, equipment and the practical side of preparing food. There is something satisfying about a cookbook that wants to make the cook feel more comfortable and confident in the kitchen.

4. The Visual Guide to Easy Meal Prep by Erin Romeo

As its title suggests, this book takes a visual approach to meal preparation.

And that itself makes it stand out. Meal preparation can sometimes feel like a chore, especially when there are several things to organise at once. A visual guide can make the process easier to understand by breaking it into manageable steps. What I remember about this book is its focus on simplicity and organisation.

It is another reminder that cookbooks do not always have to inspire us to cook something extraordinary. Sometimes their greatest contribution is helping us make everyday cooking a little easier.

5. Cooking with Judith

And then there was Cooking with Judith. This book, too, found its own space among the cookbooks I encountered during my blogging years.

What makes a cookbook memorable is often difficult to explain. It may be the voice, the presentation, the idea behind it, or simply the feeling the book leaves behind after you have finished reading it. For me, Cooking with Judith became one of those books.

Five cookbooks, five different journeys

Looking back at these books, what strikes me most is that they cannot really be compared with one another. Yes, they all belong to the cookbook category.

But one takes us into the world of Chinese bakery traditions.
Another explores the art of gathering and entertaining.
One concentrates on the essentials of the kitchen.
Another makes meal preparation visual and manageable.
And another brings its own identity and approach to cooking.

That is what I enjoy about books—and cookbooks in particular.

A cookbook is not always just a collection of recipes.

It can be a cultural document, a guide, a visual experience, introduce us to a tradition, teach us how to organise our kitchen, Or it can simply make us want to enter the kitchen and cook.

From NetGalley to my bookshelf of memories

All five of these books came through NetGalley, which has been one of the sources through which I have discovered books over the years. As a blogger who began writing in 2016, I have read and reviewed quite a number of books. Yet, years of reading have also taught me something important:

Not every book stays with you. And that is perfectly fine.

The special ones do. These five cookbooks stayed with me because each found its own path and followed it exceptionally well. They reminded me that even within one category, there can be enormous variety. And perhaps that is the beauty of books.

A label may tell us what kind of book it is.
But the concept, voice and experience tell us why it deserves to be remembered.

For a blog called Book Food Language, cookbooks naturally find their place somewhere between books and food—and sometimes, they even tell us a little about culture, people and the way we live. These five certainly did that for me.

Car-Free Day: When the Fancy Cars Take a Day Off!

  

Imagine the fancy cars resting quietly at home for a day. No engine starting, no reversing out of the parking space, no traffic jams from behind the steering wheel. Sounds interesting, doesn't it?

That is the idea behind Car-Free Day—a day when we leave our private cars behind and experience the city differently.

For someone accustomed to the comfort of driving their own car, the day can begin with a small adjustment. Instead of getting into the car, you walk to the metro station. Or you catch a bus—which may arrive already carrying its share of passengers, leaving you with just enough space to stand!

And if the office is nearby, walking becomes the best option. A short walk that would normally have been replaced by a car ride suddenly becomes part of the day's routine.

Of course, there is another interesting character in this story—the car driver. The person who normally drives you around gets a day off, perhaps even with pay! While the car enjoys its holiday at home, we discover what it feels like to depend on public transport.

The public transport adventure

Travelling by bus or metro in Chennai can be an experience in itself.

You have to plan differently. You cannot simply leave home whenever you feel like it. You check the bus or metro, walk to the stop, wait, board, find a place to stand or sit, and keep an eye on where you have to get down.

Then comes the little practical inconvenience: what happens when you have shopping bags?

A bag of vegetables, a packet from a shop, a book or two, and suddenly that comfortable car boot you took for granted begins to look very attractive!

Rain creates another challenge. A sudden Chennai shower can turn the simple walk from the bus stop into a small adventure. In summer, the heat reminds you why air-conditioning feels like such a luxury. And during peak hours, squeezing into public transport can test one's patience.

Yet there is something to be gained from all this.

You notice the neighbourhood. You see the small shops you normally pass without looking. You observe people going about their daily lives. You discover a lane, a bakery or a flower shop that you never noticed while concentrating on the road ahead.

And then comes the bicycle!

Cycling is perhaps the most adventurous option.

Cycling around Chennai in neatly dressed corporate clothes may itself qualify as an adventure! Imagine arriving at office after negotiating traffic, signals, buses and two-wheelers—while trying to remain reasonably presentable.

But once you get past that practical difficulty, cycling offers a completely different relationship with the city.

You feel the breeze. You notice the trees. You can stop whenever something catches your attention. A familiar road suddenly looks different when you are moving at cycling speed rather than driving speed.

And today, Smart bicycles make the idea even more inviting. They stand there almost saying, “Come on, give me a try!”

A day without the car

Car-Free Day need not mean that we suddenly give up cars forever.

It can simply be an opportunity to ask ourselves: Do I really need the car for every short journey?

Perhaps the metro will do. Perhaps the bus will do. Perhaps the office is close enough to walk. Perhaps a bicycle can take us to the nearby market.

There will certainly be inconveniences. We may reach a little later, carry our own bags, wait for a bus, walk a little more, or occasionally wonder why we voluntarily chose this adventure!

But perhaps that is the point. For one day, the fancy cars get to rest, the driver gets a break, and we get to experience our own city differently. What begins as an inconvenience may end as a new experience—and perhaps even a small habit worth carrying beyond Car-Free Day.

3 Workshops in Two Days – Writing, Reading and Learning

 

Friday and Saturday were very busy days, attending 3 workshops about writing and reading.

First, thanks to my Wi-Fi, that was with me like a sincere friend and who proved trustworthy this time. I was able to listen to the words of the speaker without interruption, able to see his face clearly with no misshapes of his face. A good internet connection can make such a difference when attending online workshops!

Medium Day – September 18

The first workshop that I attended on Friday was the celebration of MEDIUM DAY – SEPTEMBER 18TH.

It started at 5.30 PM IST and ended by 6 AM the next morning (IST). There were workshops back to back. Here, I was able to attend only two of them, though I bookmarked another three, which I am planning to listen to through the recordings.

The first workshop was MORNING PAGES WRITING SESSION BY KASSANDRA MENDES.

The second one was WHY EVERY HUMAN SHOULD WRITE A DAILY BLOG (and how to consistently do it) by NIKLAS GOKE.

Both were highly informative and thought-provoking sessions.

Reading Between the Lines

On Saturday, from 12 to 1 PM IST, there was another workshop, READING BETWEEN THE LINES, organised by YOUTH KI AWAAZ, moderated by NIPUNIKA SACHDEVA.

The workshop guest speakers were NIKHIL KAMATH AND NATASHA RAMANATHAN, and the topic was about writing book reviews without using AI.

This session was highly amazing. All the three members were cool and enjoyed answering the questions of the participants.

There were small, big and medium questions around books and book reviews. It was so refreshing learning from the guests.

Online Workshops Can Be Engaging Too

These workshops were a learning experience and once again proved that even the online can be so engaging.

Three workshops, two busy days, and plenty to learn about writing, blogging, reading and book reviews.

Sometimes, attending a workshop is not just about listening to the speakers. It is also about the questions asked, the answers shared, the ideas that emerge, and the new thoughts that stay with us even after the session ends.

For me, these workshops were a definite proof that online learning can be engaging, interactive and refreshing.

Six Little Lessons That Make Life Beautiful: Faith, Trust, Hope, Confidence, Love and Attitude

 

 

Sometimes, life does not need a complicated philosophy to teach us something meaningful. A few simple observations about everyday life can remind us of values that quietly hold us together.

I came across an image titled “Six Little Stories with Lots of Meanings.” Each little story connects an ordinary act with an important quality — faith, trust, hope, confidence, love and attitude. Though simple, these six words can change the way we look at ourselves, others and life itself.

1. Faith — carrying the umbrella

The story says that when the villagers gathered to pray for rain, only one little boy came with an umbrella. That simple umbrella represents faith.

Faith does not mean that we know what will happen. It means that we continue to believe even when the result is not visible yet. The boy did not wait for the rain to begin before carrying an umbrella. He acted on his belief. In everyday life too, faith can give us the courage to take the first step — to begin a new project, learn something unfamiliar, repair a relationship or simply believe that difficult days will eventually pass.

Faith allows us to prepare for possibilities we cannot yet see.

2. Trust — the child who laughs when thrown into the air

A baby laughs when someone tosses the baby gently into the air because the child trusts that familiar hands will be there to catch them. That is trust — the feeling that we are safe enough to let go for a moment. Trust is the foundation of relationships. Families, friendships and partnerships cannot survive on constant suspicion. Trust does not mean believing that people will never make mistakes. Rather, it means having enough confidence in the relationship to allow space for imperfection, honesty and growth. But trust, like a delicate vessel, takes time to build and can be damaged quickly.

Where there is trust, the heart gets a little more room to breathe.

3. Hope — setting the alarm for tomorrow

Every night, we go to sleep without any guarantee that we will wake up the next morning. Yet we set an alarm. What a beautiful everyday expression of hope.

We make plans for tomorrow because we believe tomorrow is worth preparing for. Hope does not promise that everything will go according to our wishes. It simply tells us that the future is still open. Hope encourages us to plant a tree whose shade we may not enjoy immediately, begin a course that will take months to complete, or continue working towards something meaningful even after a disappointment.

Hope keeps tomorrow alive in our minds.

4. Confidence — planning for an unknown tomorrow

We make plans for the future despite knowing very little about what tomorrow will bring. That is confidence. Confidence is not the belief that we can control everything. It is the belief that we can meet what comes our way. There is an important difference between confidence and certainty. We may not know what will happen, but we can still believe in our ability to learn, adapt and continue.

A confident person does not necessarily have all the answers. Sometimes confidence simply says:

“I will figure it out when I get there.”

5. Love — choosing to bring children into an imperfect world

The image observes that we see suffering in the world and yet continue to marry and have children. At the heart of this is love. Love does not require the world to be perfect. We know there will be difficulties, disappointments and uncertainties, yet we continue to form relationships, build families, care for others and create memories. Love makes life worth experiencing despite its imperfections. And love is not limited to romantic relationships. It can be found in a parent's care, a friend's presence, a neighbour's kindness, a teacher's patience or the quiet companionship of someone who simply stays.

Love makes an imperfect world feel more human.

6. Attitude — “80 years old, sweet 16 with 64 years of experience”

Perhaps the most delightful lesson is the last one. An elderly person says:

“I am not 80 years old; I am sweet 16 with 64 years of experience.” That is attitude.

Age may be measured in years, but the way we experience those years depends greatly on our outlook. A positive attitude does not mean pretending that problems do not exist. It means refusing to allow every problem to define our entire life.

We can grow older without allowing curiosity to grow old.

We can acquire experience without losing enthusiasm.

We can accept the passage of time while continuing to learn, laugh, explore and appreciate ordinary moments.

Attitude cannot always change our circumstances, but it can change the way we meet them.

Six words, one beautiful way of living

Faith helps us to believe.
Trust teaches us to let go.
Hope makes us to look towards tomorrow.
Confidence pushes us to move forward despite uncertainty.
Love shapes us to embrace life and people despite imperfections.
Attitude trains us how to respond to whatever life places before us.

None of these qualities can prevent difficulties. They do something more important: they help us live through them without losing ourselves.

Perhaps that is why the little stories in the image stay with us. They take familiar actions — carrying an umbrella, laughing in someone's arms, setting an alarm, making plans, forming relationships and growing older — and show us the deeper meanings hidden within them.

Life becomes beautiful not because everything is perfect, but because we bring something beautiful to the way we live it.

And perhaps the best reminder is this:

Have faith in what you cannot yet see.
Trust those who have earned your trust.
Keep hope for tomorrow.
Have confidence in yourself.
Make room for love.
And carry the right attitude through every season of life.