With medication largely unaffordable in the country, experts hope community support and a change in diet could reduce soaring type 2 diabetes rates
A return to the traditional lentil and rice dishes that have nourished generations of Nepalis could save them from a diabetes epidemic prompted by the influx of western junk foods, doctors have said.
In a country where one in five of those over 40 has type 2 diabetes, the foods enjoyed by their grandparents have showed remarkable results in reversing the condition.
Diabetes medication is largely unaffordable in Nepal, and type 2 diabetes often sets off a cascade of complications which can include kidney disease, limb loss and blindness. Uncontrolled, it will eventually lead to premature death.
“For many families, diabetes is not just a medical condition, but a long-term social and economic burden,” said Dr Ashish Tamang, a resident doctor based in Kathmandu.
