Diabetes: when diet rhymes with health and pleasure 

By Ariane Sultan, university professor specializing in diabetology, endocrinology, and nutrition, and head of the Nutrition-Diabetes Department at Lapeyronie University Hospital in Montpellier.

Different perspectives on diabetes and nutrition

Diabetes is defined by an increase in blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia. It is a chronic disease, meaning that diabetes cannot be cured, but blood sugar levels can be balanced, which reduces the risk of complications associated with hyperglycemia," says Professor Ariane Sultan .

Scheduled as part of European Disability Employment Week (ED EW), the conference will focus specifically on the specific characteristics of type 2 diabetes, a metabolic and potentially disabling disease that is constantly on the rise. This conference will provide an opportunity to understand the concrete impacts of diabetes and raise awareness of the consequences of this disability in everyday life. Within the UM, people with diabetes can apply for Recognition of Disabled Worker Status (RQTH) and benefit from workplace adaptations, among other things.

As Ariane Sultan states, "It is estimated that nearly 5% of the French population currently has type 2 diabetes. Forecasts show that this prevalence will increase, in direct correlation with the increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity."

Food is much more than just fuel for the body. It is a determining factor in health, influencing our physical and mental well-being. Ariane Sultan will address the qualitative and quantitative aspects of food, highlighting nutritional choices that are beneficial for the prevention and management of diabetes.

She will explain how an appropriate diet can contribute to better glycemic control, while taking into account individual lifestyles and preferences. She will also discuss the latest nutritional recommendations and strategies for supporting people living with this condition. "We will recommend a healthy diet for diabetes. Ultimately, this is the diet that should be recommended to anyone who wants to be healthy," explains Ariane Sultan.

Offer a paradigm shift

Far from restrictive diets, Professor Ariane Sultan advocates a humanistic and caring approach to nutrition, where the enjoyment of food plays a central role. Eating should remain an act of joy, sharing, and culture, even in the context of chronic illness, and become a form of care for everyone. "Maintaining pleasure and quality of life is essential in supporting people living with diabetes, " concludes Ariane Sultan.

This conference will invite us to rethink our relationship with food, to combine health and pleasure, and to better support people living with diabetes—an invisible disability—towards an improved quality of life.

The conference will be followed by a presentation on diet and type 2 diabetes by the Joint Service for Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion (SCMPPS).

For any questions regarding accessibility at the event, please contact the Handiversité service byemail.

Conference organized by the Handiversité department – Campus Life Directorate of the University of Montpellier (UM) as part of the UM Disability Master Plan and European Disability Employment Week (EDEW).