Return of the sweet, sweet life for Dinajpur's diabetics

Salty, sour, bitter, sweet and umami: for many, experiencing the five taste sensations picked up by the receptors called taste buds and transmitted to the gustatory area of the brain for processing is a quintessential part of life's enjoyment. It's the reason diabetes sufferers will scour city supermarket shelves for pricey sugarless treats; and occasionally, against doctor's orders, pop some delectable sweetmeat, or perhaps half a one, into their mouths. At some point most of us will have witnessed a diabetic patient briefly surrender to such kind of sugary indulgence.

Joynul Abedin, 48, of Dinajpur town is a man who believes in taste buds. Though not himself a sufferer of diabetes, he appreciates the diabetic patients' conundrum in managing diets. Moreover, he's doing something about it: to make it easier and, not to mention, a little sweeter.

After completing Alim in 1989, Abedin worked as an imam and Q'uran teacher at various mosques in Dinajpur district before migrating to Qatar in 2010 to work in various jobs. It was upon his return home after two years abroad that he discovered his later working life would be spent as a dedicated baker.

"When I returned home," he says, "I saw that for many people with diabetes, especially those from poorer backgrounds, the disease was their only obstacle to enjoying tasty treats like biscuits and chanachur."

In June 2012 Abedin baked his first batch of sweet and salted biscuits suitable for diabetics and began to ferry his product around town by bicycle in search of appreciative customers.

"I do everything by my own hand," says Abedin, while preparing diabetic biscuits at his Natunpara home. He uses nigella seeds and several other ingredients to produce a sweet taste that does not include sugar.

At only 10 taka for a packet of biscuits, Abedin's efforts have proved popular, especially for diabetics who cannot afford the imported or factory made alternatives.

"I have been enjoying his snacks for the last year," says a thankful Idris Ali of Nimtola in Dinajpur town.

"I was sceptical at first," says another customer, Jalal Uddin, "but it's never aggravated my condition and I'm convinced his products are good for me." The reasonable price is also good, he adds.

Busy with baking of a day, Abedin sells his product from sunset to 11.30 p.m. at night. "I have six sales points in Dinajpur town," he says, "starting at the central bus terminal and finishing in Bahadur Bazar, spending thirty minutes to an hour in each location."

With Abedin's products having gained a reputation and enjoying brisk sales, he was able this year to retire his bicycle in favour of a motorcycle. Attached at the back is a large tin trunk used to carry his bakery items that proudly reads "General and Diabetes Foods."

During a visit to Dinajpur bus terminal on Monday evening, this correspondent found his parked motorcycle had attracted a small crowd of dedicated sugarless biscuit connoisseurs.

"I'd like to make my products available across the district," says Abedin, "so that all diabetics can find snacks to enjoy as easily as the regular public can."