“One of the most important things to me was becoming self-aware. I wanted to know what was going on inside my body so that I can manage it well. With constant support and monitoring, I brought my HbA1c down from 8.5 to 5.”

This is a story of a common man who, in the face of many challenges, kept moving forward with a strong resolve to defeat diabetes. His self-discipline and motivation to achieve his health goals is a perfect example of how one can do anything that he sets his mind on with the right help.

Mr. Ashok Hiranandani is a middle-class, semi-retired 61-year-old man who spent years working in finance before moving onto his own special venture. Originally he belongs to Kolkata but currently, he is living in Bangalore with his wife and two beautiful children.

His life long battle with diabetes has been fuelled with immense willpower and self-discipline. What makes him a superhero is not just the health improvements he has achieved, but also his constant desire to learn, grow himself and never stop trying to be a better version of himself. His health journey is an inspiration to us and will surely motivate each one of you to take the right step for your health as well.

History with Diabetes

Mr. Hiranandani’s encounter with diabetes happened long before he himself was diagnosed with it. Back in the 1980s when he was still a student in college, his mother was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. This particular event in his life was a milestone as he first came to know what diabetes meant.

“I used to be the one responsible for getting medicines for her. I would run to the local CGHS health center every week to get her medication. I travelled with my friends through the busy streets of Kolkata to get her weekly doses from the hospital. In that time, there was not much awareness about how to correctly manage diabetes and what it really meant. But since my college days, I have seen the consequences and impact of diabetes on a person’s life so I’m no stranger to it.”

This vivid memory was going to shape his personal journey with Diabetes significantly.

From mother to son

Mr. Hiranandani was always a bit afraid after his mother was diagnosed with diabetes that he may develop it sooner or later as well.

Around the year 2000, he was planning to move to Bangalore from Kolkata. Before this big move, he was consulting his family doctor and the doctor warned him that he is on the verge of developing diabetes and should be careful.

Mr. Hiranandani did not take this warning lightly and strictly adhered to the proper lifestyle to avoid falling into the sugar pit. But the move to Bangalore was quite a challenge for him.

“It took me a while to adjust to Bangalore. The weather there is colder so I was catching colds frequently. Moreover, my job was giving me a lot of stress. I was in a state of distress all the time and just wanted to quit. But before quitting, I had to manage my finances well to look after my family. All of these things were going on at the same time.”

Due to these various factors, he could not escape diabetes and was diagnosed in 2011.

“It was like the sky had fallen on me. All my fears had come true. But by this time there was a lot of awareness and information about diabetes available. So I decided to make the best of the resources we have now and try to move forward with my life.”

Moving on strong

Being a man working in the tax and finance department, he managed his finances well and was finally able to quit his job. He dedicated most of his time after that to his health.

“I used to read about diabetes on the internet. It was very empowering to read various case studies and personal stories of diabetics. The internet gave me a lot of tools to manage my sugar levels. Through all my surfing, I came across Zyla.”

Mr. Hiranandani had tried some other diabetes control apps as well but he found the Zyla experience to be the best.

“I wanted to know what was going on inside my body so that I can manage it well. With Zyla I learnt the importance of lifestyle changes when it comes to diabetes. I felt that the Zyla team could offer the kind of help and education I was looking for. One of the best parts of Zyla is that they don’t give up. They keep reminding me to follow the Health Plan and if I make a mistake, they will point it out and remind me to correct myself. “

But the improvements in his health were not only Zyla’s doing. His own willpower and self-discipline are what led him to be healthier and more energetic.

He dared to explore something different and break out of the traditional norms. Many people around him did not always understand. Despite the criticism, he followed through on all the advice that was given to him religiously which is why today he has strict control over his sugar levels and overall health.

Becoming a real-life superhero

When the Covid-19 pandemic caused millions of people to stay at home, Mr. Hiranandani bravely embarked on a mission to help the underprivileged in this time of need.

He put on his mask and put his personal fears aside to help countless others. With this gesture, he was no less than a real-life superhero.

Currently Mr. Ashok is running his own sweet venture with his even sweeter wife - a home bakery cooking up the sweetest, most moist treats and homely bakes! Yes you heard it right! Our diabetic superhero is spreading the sweetness that he can’t enjoy to other people!

“Me and my wife run a bakery from home. I know that I may never have the luxury to eat my fill of sweets anymore but delivering it to other people and putting a smile on their face is something that I can still do. Spreading the sweetness of home-baked goods to other people gives me much more satisfaction and happiness than actually eating them.”

Despite being surrounded by these tasty sweets all day, Mr. Hiranandani has shown tremendous self-control and discipline as he continues in his fight against Diabetes.

“In the current times when you have so many unhealthy options around you, trying to eat healthy in itself is like a rebellious act. It is not easy for anyone to change the way they have lived for most of their life but you need to do it when the time comes. I follow the diet and routine very strictly now. I have become too particular with my food timings and choices. I have always been open and honest when it comes to owning up to my mistakes. I always let Zyla know and they discipline me accordingly which I appreciate. I have formed a family-like bond with them.”

His wife has played a big role in supporting Mr. Hiranandani in his health journey.

“My wife already has a lot on her plate and she cannot always get me the right meal at the right time. I am very particular about my food and I will not take something just because it’s available. I often ask her to cook something specific for me apart from what she has made which sometimes annoys her but she never says no. She helps me stay healthy and fit.”

His message to fellow diabetics

“People used to say ‘Once a diabetic, always a diabetic’ but this is not true anymore. If one has the willpower and self-discipline to manage his lifestyle, he can overcome diabetes. Today we have the information and proper guidance of how to manage our sugar levels. Just reading and listening to the guidelines is not enough, you should have the personal motivation to follow it as well. Anyone who follows will surely be fit and fine.”

Mr. Hiranandani has always been an advocate for Diabetes awareness and self-discipline and continues to spread this message with his story. He has been a part of the Zyla family for over 2 years now. Over time he has become the perfect student who has helped us grow with his continuous guidance and blessings.

We at Zyla, have been in awe of his dedication to his health, his kindness and enthusiasm. Cheers to our superhero!!