Diabetes (Mellitus) is a mammoth disease. One out of every 11 person is a patient of diabetes. Unfortunately, India carries the maximum numbers of diabetic patients. Almost 5% of Indian population is diabetic. Many of them die due to complications related to diabetes. Let’s understand the disease and its treatment.
How does diabetes occur?
Every one of us has a gland called pancreas. It is located behind our stomach. Pancreas produces the hormone called Insulin. There are two types of Diabetes. Both the types of diabetes are related to insulin.
Type -1 diabetes occurs due to autoimmunity. Our immune cells attack on pancreas which results into less or no production of insulin hormone. Type -1 Diabetes also carries the genetic factor. Type-1 diabetes mostly occurs to children and young adults.
Type -2 diabetes occurs when our body becomes insulin resistant, that is, when our body cannot use the insulin properly, the body cells do not receive the sugar, and the sugar mixes with the bloodstream. Initially, the pancreas makes more insulin to keep up with the added demand. Later, the pancreas can’t make enough insulin; extra insulin needs to be supplemented.
According to Ayurveda, there are 20 types of diabetes. Out of these, Diabetes mellitus can be correlated with Madhumeha. Madhumeha is such a disease which is difficult to cure according to Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, Diabetes occurs due to sedentary life style, indulgence of food articles which increases Kapha, indulgence of stress-grief-fear etc.
What are the symptoms of Diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes are very common and silent hence, it is very important to know and be aware about the symptoms of diabetes.
- Increased thirst
- frequent urination
- weight loss
- increased hunger
- blur vision
- irritability
- tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- frequent skin, bladder or gum infections
- wounds that don’t heal
- extreme unexplained fatigue
How Diabetes is diagnosed?
Diagnosis of diabetes is done through laboratory investigations. Fasting blood sugar measurement is one of the most common criteria in diabetes. If your fasting blood sugar (FBS) is more than 100-120, there is another advanced test called A1C test. The A1C test is a blood test that provides your average levels of blood glucose over the past 3 months. A1C test results are reported as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher your average blood glucose levels.
Treatment of Diabetes:
Modern medicines provide supplementary treatment of Diabetes such as insulin hormones, matformin compound etc. the patient needs to take these compounds lifelong along with diet and lifestyle regimes.
Ayurveda treatment of Diabetes:
On the other hand, Ayurveda offers most effective sets of medicines, diet and lifestyle regimes which are harmless and can reduce the blood glucose level significantly.
Ayurveda diet for Diabetes:
- Avoid all sweet (sugar contained) diet
- Avoid heavy to digest food such as refined flours, yogurt etc.
- Avoid fatty food
- Eat light and easy to digest food such as barley, whole grains etc.
- Eat leafy green vegetables
Ayurveda lifestyle for diabetes:
- Do regular walking and jogging
- Do regular work out and exercises
- Avoid day sleep
- Regularise the diet and sleep pattern
- Do regular Asana & Pranayama
Ayurveda medicines and treatment for Diabetes:
Ayurveda has offered numbers of herbs and herbal compounds of diabetes. Herbs like Amalaki, Haridra, Mamejava, Vijayasaretc, minerals like Shilajeet, and compounds (medicines) like Chandraprabha Vati, Trifala Guggulu, pancha tiktaka kwathaetc. have found very effective in diabetes.
Each person carries its identical constitution. To get the optimum results, the medicines must be chosen depending upon one’s body constitution, digestive capacity and physical strength. It is advisable to consult the Ayurveda physician before indulging into any herb or medicines.