Q: 1. How can diabeties (type 2) be controlled without medicines?
2. When are the Insulin tablets hitting medicine stores in India?
3. Can a diabetic patient donate his/her blood without affecting the reciever?

A:1. In the initial stages, type 2 duabetes can be controlled with regular exercise and diet control, ie reduction in calories for the overweight diabetic, and proper distribution of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. If exercise and diet control are not adequate to control diabetes, medicines have to be added. Even after medicines are started, exercise and diet control continue to be important for controlling diabetes and maintaining good health.
2. Insulin tablets do not exist anywhere in the world, though much research is going on to develop a form of insulin which can be administered without injecting.
3. Theoretically, a well controlled diabetic should be able to donate blood safely; however, to the best of my knowledge, the Indian Red Cross does not accept blood from diabetics.