Chai and Snacks: The Hidden Diabetes Risk in Indian Daily Habits

• Indians' daily habit of consuming tea with refined flour snacks like biscuits, rusks, samosas, and pakoras significantly increases diabetes risk.
• These snacks, rich in refined flour, poor quality oils, and hidden sugars, cause rapid blood glucose spikes, forcing the pancreas to release large amounts of insulin.
• Frequent consumption leads to insulin resistance, a precursor to Type-2 Diabetes, as explained by Dr. Pranav Ghodi, Consultant Endocrinologist at Wockhardt Hospitals.
• A typical 'cutting chai' contains excessive sugar (6-8 teaspoons daily for multiple cups), far exceeding WHO recommendations, further damaging metabolism.
• Indians have a genetic predisposition to insulin resistance and lower muscle density, making them more vulnerable, especially with a sedentary lifestyle.

Why It Matters: Daily tea with sugary, refined snacks significantly elevates diabetes risk in Indians due to insulin resistance.