Mumbai: To mark the occasion of World Diabetes Day, Britannia NutriChoice launched a first-of-its-kind service that democratises access to nutrition for people with diabetes. The initiative uses the expertise of nutrition and health coach Ryan Fernando to deliver diet plans customised to age and dietary preferences.

The campaign will reach over 15 million people in India and promote awareness about healthy meal planning to help prevent and manage diabetes.

Ryan Fernando, India’s leading nutritionist with over two decades of experience, has partnered with Britannia Nutrichoice to provide customised diet counseling. The diets keep in mind the need for diversity in taste, focus on portion control, and work with simple, everyday sources of nutrition. According to the IDF, India ranks second after China, with 77 million people with diabetes. It is one of the largest global health emergencies of this century, ranking among the 10 leading causes of mortality. Over one in two adults with diabetes is undiagnosed. In India, one of the primary reasons for the steady rise in cases of diabetes is the increasingly unhealthy lifestyle and dietary choices. For a problem that affects so many, there isn’t one solution that fits all.

This World Diabetes Day, the service launched by Britannia Nutrichoice is to provide a customised diet plan to individuals managing diabetes based on age and dietary preferences while minding the diversity of food choices across the country. The initiative recommends the most suitable diet plan for each person based on their demographics and delivers it via an easy-to-access, interactive WhatsApp ChatBot.

Knowing that the journey to good health requires consistency and commitment, the initiative uses AI-powered technology to deliver a personalised video (addressing every individual by name) to check in on them a week after the diet plan has been delivered, to keep them motivated and on track.

DENMARC director and Jaslok Hospital and Research Center endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism director prof. (Dr.) Hemraj B. Chandalia said, "On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, let us intensify our efforts to stop the onslaught of diabetes by choosing a healthier lifestyle. Healthful foods and increased physical activity will go a long way in preventing diabetes and mitigating its complications."

Speaking on the launch, Britannia Industries chief marketing officer Amit Doshi said, "India is home to the world’s second-highest population of people managing diabetes. On World Diabetes Day, we are happy to launch this national initiative to provide expert counsel towards balanced nutrition for diabetes. We aim to democratise access to nutrition and deliver a highly personalised experience using the power of AI technology. We are happy to have partnered with award-winning nutritionist Ryan Fernando, who worked extensively on the diet plans and helped bring the large-scale and much-needed initiative to life."

Nutritionist and Qua Nutrition founder Ryan Fernando said, "As a nutrition coach, it is my responsibility to educate and guide people towards healthier options and choosing foods that heal the body. Diabetes is a disorder that can be regulated and managed through the foods one consumes and the lifestyle one leads. I am excited about my collaboration with Britannia NutriChoice and hope what we have worked on benefits a lot of diabetics and pre-diabetics across the country."