Pune: Can traditional Indian food help people achieve diabetes remission without restrictive diets, fasting or special nutritional products?
A study involving 87 adults with early Type 2 diabetes, conducted by Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune, and Dr Kale’s Diabetes and Psychiatry Clinic, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, offers some encouraging evidence.
Published in the international journal Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews (Elsevier, 2026), the six-month study found that 60.9% of participants achieved diabetes remission without glucose-lowering medication following a structured dietary and lifestyle intervention.
The interesting aspect of the findings is not just the remission rate. The intervention relied on familiar Indian meals, including multigrain chapatis, dal, sprouts, green leafy vegetables, nuts and fruits.
Participants were not asked to adopt specialised diets, skip meals or follow fasting windows. Instead, the approach focused on portion control, balanced nutrition and regular physical activity.
For a country where everyday diets are built around cereals, pulses and vegetables, the findings offer an interesting perspective on how diabetes management could be made more practical and sustainable.
Can everyday Indian food help achieve diabetes remission?
The study involved 87 adults who had been living with Type 2 diabetes for two years or less. Participants followed a Local Healthy Moderate Carbohydrate (LHMC) diet, with defined portions and a balanced distribution of macronutrients.
The prescribed diet provided approximately 1,200 kcal daily, with carbohydrates contributing 44–46% of energy, proteins 25–30% and fats 25–30%.
The intervention also included 40 minutes of daily walking and 10 minutes of deep breathing exercises.
After six months, 53 participants (60.9%) achieved remission without glucose-lowering medication. Among those who completed the study, the remission rate was 61.3%.
Other improvements were also recorded:
- Average weight reduction of 4.67 kg.
- Average HbA1c levels declined from 7.32% to 6.27%.
- Participants who achieved remission spent 90.7% of their time in the normal glucose range, compared with 85.5% among those who did not achieve remission.
- Insulin resistance, triglycerides and liver enzymes declined.
These results suggest that diabetes management may involve more than simply reducing carbohydrate intake. The study examined a combination of dietary composition, portion sizes and physical activity.
Dr Vedavati Purandare, Consultant Diabetologist and Head of Clinical Services, Chellaram Hospital Diabetes Care and Multispecialty, said, “Our patients did not need special foods, skipped meals or fasting windows. They ate the traditional Indian food their families eat, in measured portions, and walked every day. Six in ten reached remission without any diabetes medicine, and those who walked most consistently did best.”
The 40-minute walking routine that stood out
Perhaps the most striking finding was the relationship between exercise adherence and diabetes remission.
Participants who followed the prescribed walking routine on at least 80% of days had 8.24 times higher adjusted odds of achieving remission compared with those who exercised less consistently.
This association was statistically significant, with P = 0.004.
The finding puts regular physical activity at the centre of the discussion around diabetes management. While dietary changes were an important part of the intervention, the consistency of exercise emerged as a particularly strong factor associated with remission.
Dr Mayura Kale, researcher in the study, said, “Running the study in two cities let us test this approach with people from different backgrounds rather than in a single clinic. Our participants ate what their families eat: chapati, dal, sprouts and vegetables, in measured portions.
We followed what they ate through food diaries, photographs of their meals and regular phone calls, and we found that people could keep it up for six months. The clearest signal in our data was daily exercise. Those who did exercise on most days were far more likely to reach remission. That is a message any person with diabetes, in any town, can act on.”
For doctors, the findings offer an additional reason to consider the feasibility of lifestyle interventions when designing treatment plans.
Rather than relying exclusively on dietary restrictions, the approach explored how familiar meals and achievable exercise routines could be incorporated into everyday life.
Diabetes treatment: Why early intervention matters
Dr A.G. Unnikrishnan, CEO and Endocrinologist, Chellaram Hospital Diabetes Care and Multispecialty, said, “Diabetes has long been thought of as a disease that only gets worse. This study shows that, caught early, it can be put into remission with the Indian plate, not against it. Restrictive diets need not be prescribed for every patient; care can be individualised. A larger controlled trial must now confirm these findings, and patients should change their treatment only with consultation with their doctor.”
The researchers also examined changes beyond conventional blood glucose measurements.
Dr Shalbha Tiwari, research scientist and key member of the Chellaram Diabetes Research Centre, said, “As a researcher, I am interested in what changed inside the body. Insulin resistance fell, triglycerides and liver enzymes came down, and continuous glucose monitoring showed glucose staying in the normal range without any diabetes medicine. Together these suggest that the body’s own control of glucose was improving.
We analysed every participant who enrolled, including those who left the study, and the remission rate still held at 53%. This was a single-arm study, so a randomised trial is the next step. The Chellaram Foundation supports research of this kind because a largely plant-based diet of grains, pulses, vegetables and nuts can be good for people and for the planet,”
However, the findings need to be viewed in the context of the study’s limitations. It was a six-month, single-arm study without a control group. A larger randomised controlled trial is required to establish the effectiveness of the intervention.
Importantly, participants stopped their diabetes medicines under close medical supervision as part of the study. Patients should not discontinue prescribed medication independently.
Diabetes among younger people: Why weight management cannot be ignored
Dr Reema Kashiva, Director of Medicine and Director, Centre of Excellence for Diabetes and Obesity, Noble Hospitals and Research Centre, Pune, highlights individualised treatment, early intervention and sustainable lifestyle changes as important components of diabetes care.
Obesity is one of the major risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes. According to Dr Kashiva, managing weight can contribute to improvements in blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol.
Treatment options have also expanded beyond conventional medication. Newer medicines, including injectable therapies, can help manage weight and blood glucose levels. Metabolic and bariatric surgery may also be a life-changing option for eligible patients with severe obesity.
However, medical treatment needs to be accompanied by sustainable lifestyle changes.
Balanced meals, regular walking, strength-building exercises, adequate sleep and avoiding sugary drinks are among the practical measures highlighted by Dr Kashiva.
She also points to misconceptions that can delay appropriate treatment, including the belief that obesity is simply laziness, that thin people cannot develop diabetes or that insulin treatment necessarily means the disease has reached an advanced stage.
Mental and social well-being are additional considerations. Stress, excessive screen time and reduced outdoor activity are emerging concerns among younger people.
Telemedicine, meanwhile, could improve diabetes awareness, counselling and access to care, particularly in rural areas.
“Do not wait for symptoms. Diabetes can remain undetected for years. Check early, act early and remember that with the right guidance and consistent care, people with diabetes can lead healthy, fulfilling lives,” she said.
Diabetes complications extend to bones, joints and mobility
Blood glucose control is only one part of managing diabetes. Its effects on bone strength, joint mobility and musculoskeletal health are also important considerations, particularly for people living with the condition over longer periods.
Persistently high blood sugar can affect the internal structure and collagen of bones, making them less resilient and increasing fracture risk.
People with Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of hip fractures compared with those without diabetes, even when their bone density is normal or higher.
Other complications include frozen shoulder, muscle weakness, nerve damage and balance problems. These conditions can increase the likelihood of falls, and can also delay fracture healing.
Dr Pranit Patni, Consultant Internal Medicine at Lokmanya Hospitals, said, “Normal bone density does not necessarily indicate normal bone strength in people with diabetes. Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies, which are common in India, can further compromise bone health. Diabetes management must therefore go beyond blood sugar control. Protecting bone strength, maintaining joint mobility and preventing falls are equally important for preserving independence and quality of life.”
Timely bone health assessments, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, a balanced protein-rich diet, regular walking, and strength and balance exercises are among the measures highlighted by experts.
DXA bone-density screening may also be considered in consultation with a doctor, depending on age and individual risk factors, particularly among older adults and people with a history of fractures or frequent falls.
Preventive healthcare and vaccination for people with diabetes
Another consideration in long-term diabetes management is protection against infections.
People living with diabetes are at a higher risk of infection-related complications, making preventive healthcare particularly important.
Dr Manjusha Ghumare, Head and Women’s Health Consultant, Chellaram Women’s Health Centre, highlights the importance of adult vaccination, particularly among ageing populations.
Vaccination can help prevent serious infections, reduce complications and hospitalisations, and support healthy ageing.
Chellaram Women’s Health Centre has started an Adult Vaccination Centre as part of this preventive healthcare approach.
