Together we take charge with real life testimonials from Chef Wan and more.
A Son’s Tale
Diabetes is a subject close to the heart of internationally renowned culinary expert Chef Wan.
“My late father was diagnosed with diabetes in his 40s,” remarks Chef Wan. “He led a carefree life, and was sadly not mindful of his eating habits and lifestyle choices. Despite my constant reminders, my father continued to enjoy his favourite local delicacies which often contained high levels of saturated fat and sugar.”
As a concerned son, Chef Wan had to think of creative ways to prepare meals for his father as he regularly enjoyed a tasty nasi briyani, mutton curry, or roti canai. This often meant finding ways to recreate his father’s favourite dishes with a healthy touch.
“As the saying goes, old habits die hard. It was an uphill task ensuring my father ate a healthy nutritious meal. Yet, I found ways for him to still enjoy his meals by substituting traditional ingredients with fresh, wholesome vegetables, lean meat, and replacing cooking oil with a healthier option, such as canola oil which contains polyunsaturated fats. I also adopted healthier cooking methods such as baking, grilling and roasting, instead of deep fried frying which is typical in Malay food preparation.” Chef Wan added.
“The entire family went through a transformation as a result. But it didn’t happen overnight. In order to help our father stay the course and eat healthier meals, all family members had to do the same. This meant no more kuih-muih or desserts at the dinner table” said Chef Wan.
Chef Wan actively encouraged his father to walk, take up gardening and volunteer at the local mosque. “These forms of exercise ensured he broke a sweat whilst losing weight. When you have diabetes, it is important to keep moving, moving!” added Chef Wan.
“My dad lived to reach 78 before passing away due to a stroke. I firmly believe that family support was key to helping him take back control of his life and live with diabetes.”
Chef Wan’s personal experience is one of the key reasons he is so passionate about improving the lives of Malaysians by educating them on the benefits of healthy eating, combating obesity and leading a healthy lifestyle to manage and prevent diabetes.
“Life is beautiful, love yourself” believes Chef Wan.
Through Thick and Thin
‘Love overcomes all obstacles’. The loving relationship between Shamsiah Bt Haji Jamaludin and her husband is the perfect illustration.
Shamsiah is a caregiver to her 75-year-old husband who has been living with diabetes for the past 20 years. “I took my husband for a medical check one day because he was complaining about feeling lethargic. It was during this examination we found that he had diabetes,” recalled Shamsiah.
“Since that day, I paid careful attention to his diet. Despite this, there were days when he would still feel tired due to a spike in his blood sugar level. However, since introducing NUTREN® GLUCOBALANCE™, a complete and balanced diabetes formulation, as part of his diet, those days are a distant memory."
The couple, who will be soon celebrating their 50th golden anniversary choose to stay active together by taking evening strolls on the beach. “Due to my husband’s advancing age, we take our time and enjoy a leisurely stroll each day. Exercise is crucial if you are living with diabetes,” said Shamsiah.
“My husband never paid attention to his health when he was a young man. He took his health for granted. I always remind my children when they come visit, to eat healthily, or otherwise they may end up like their father,” Shamsiah joked.
Take Control
Diabetes does not discriminate it can affect anyone, at any time. The good news is, diabetes is something that you can manage. The change, starts with you. Act today for tomorrow.
