CASE STUDY & SUCCESS STORIES
Name: Supriya
Location: Hyderabad
Age: 63 years
Case history:Supriya is a cancer survivor, having triumphed over her battle with the disease. However, in the aftermath, she faced a series of new challenges in managing her health, with several lifestyle-related conditions emerging. These included high blood pressure, elevated uric acid levels, imbalanced sugar levels, and thyroid issues. In an attempt to regain control, she tried various approaches, including adopting an oil-free and salt-free diet. Unfortunately, some of her health parameters, such as uric acid and blood sugar, worsened, and her blood pressure, which had been fluctuating, didn’t stabilize despite taking three different blood pressure medications throughout the day.
Her concerns about her uric acid levels led her to avoid protein-rich foods, fearing they might be contributing to her condition. Yet, even with medications, her uric acid remained high at 8, and her blood sugar levels remained stubbornly elevated her fasting sugar at 132 mg/dl and postprandial at 180 mg/dl, despite taking three medications to manage it.
This fear of food, coupled with her constant attempts to avoid certain foods, eventually led her to experience frequent hunger pangs. The stress of these dietary restrictions and her increasing fear of food made her feel weak, ultimately preventing her from continuing her morning walks. This cycle left Supriya feeling frustrated and overwhelmed, as her quest to manage her post-cancer health seemed to be complicating matters further.
Approach by the best nutritionist / dietician in Hyderabad, Telangana, India Deepika Chalasani:
Deepika explained to Supriya that much of the information available online regarding lifestyle disorders is based on Western research, and the approach for managing these issues in Indians should be different. The underlying causes of lifestyle diseases in Indians often differ from those in Western populations. For instance, when uric acid levels are high, Western recommendations typically involve cutting down on protein-rich foods and high-purine foods. This works in Western diets because they tend to have a higher protein intake. However, in India, the primary issue is excessive grain consumption, which contributes to the problem.
Deepika also educated Supriya about the negative effects of completely eliminating sodium, as low sodium can harm the brain. We emphasized that cutting out salt entirely is not a sustainable or healthy long-term solution.
Upon reviewing her diet, we noticed that Supriya was primarily consuming small portions of grain-based meals such as ragi malt, jowar roti, atta roti, and tur dal, but was lacking other important food groups like vegetables, fruits, protein, and healthy fats. This imbalance led to insulin spikes in her body, contributing to her health issues, a condition known as insulin resistance.
To address this, Deepika introduced fat-burning foods in a time-restricted eating pattern, which encouraged her body to burn fat for energy and improved her insulin sensitivity. We also adjusted her vegetable-to-grain ratio to help her body become more alkaline, which would aid in lowering her sugar levels and promote healthy weight loss.
The first step was to reduce the portions of grains, including cereals, legumes, and lentils, and to consistently add vegetables and fruits into her meals. We recommended whole grains like hand-pounded rice and quinoa, which are gut-friendly and rich in fibre, helping to lower the glycaemic load. Since fruit can raise sugar levels, we advised combining it with omega-3-rich seeds to prevent sugar spikes. Additionally, we included lean, anti-inflammatory protein sources like deep-sea fish and tofu to support her overall health.
By the end of the first week, Supriya noticed a reduction in hunger pangs and restlessness, along with a significant improvement in her blood pressure, which had stopped fluctuating. She was initially hesitant to include salt in her diet due to her fear, so we allowed her to continue without it for a couple of weeks. As she saw her sugar levels drop and her blood pressure stabilize, she gained the confidence to reintroduce small amounts of salt.
Throughout the process, we reintroduced some of Supriya’s favourite foods and taught her how to enjoy them while maintaining a balanced, active lifestyle. This approach not only helped her regain control over her health but also restored her confidence in her ability to manage her nutrition moving forward.
Results:
After three weeks, Supriya had her blood tests done again, and the results boosted her confidence in our program. Her uric acid levels dropped from 8 to 3.5, her fasting blood sugar reduced from 132 to 90, and her post-prandial sugar levels decreased to 130. Seeing these improvements, her doctor decided to eliminate her diabetes medication but asked her to monitor her sugar readings every day to ensure her sugar levels remained within range even after the elimination of medications.. At the start of the program, she was on three blood pressure medications. By the end of the first month, her blood pressure was dropping too low, so her doctor gradually reduced her medication. After three months, all of her health parameters had improved without the need for any medications.
The diet Supriya followed was therapeutic, and we gradually reintroduced some of her favourite foods, including sweets and comfort foods like dosas, in moderation. As she started eating more wholesome foods, her energy levels increased, and she regained the strength to go for walks, eventually hitting 10,000 steps per day. With a balanced diet and increased physical activity, she became more relaxed, stress-free, and confident.
Today, Supriya is not taking any medication for blood sugar, blood pressure, or uric acid. Her health parameters are regularly monitored by her doctors, and her sugar levels range between 95–105 mg/dl at home, which is equivalent to 85–100 mg/dl in lab tests. Her blood pressure is well-maintained at 120/75–80, and her uric acid remains stable at 3.5. By the end of the program, she also lost 9 kilograms of excess weight. Supriya now enjoys her favourite foods, maintains healthy levels of salt in her diet, and keeps all her parameters in the optimal range without relying on medications.
Deepika Chalasani is a Clinical Nutritionist, Mind and Body Transformation Coach and co-founder of Fit4Life India, an integrated nutrition and wellness organization for Indians that provides complete solutions, addressing health and wellness challenges of individuals by working on their overall well-being. Deepika, best nutritionist in Hyderabad for weight loss and online dietician can be contacted via email deepika.chalasani@gmail.com or Mobile +91 9491011202
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