DIABETES

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects quality of life and may even shorten a person’s life span. Diabetes mellitus (DM) means your blood glucose or blood sugar is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because your body needs glucose for energy to keep you energetic or active. But presence of too much glucose in your blood stream is not good for your health. Glucose comes from the food you eat and is also made in your liver and muscles. Your blood carries the glucose to all of the cells in your body.

Insulin is a chemical or a type of hormone made by the pancreas. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood, which works as a key to glucose for entering into your body cells. If your body does not make enough insulin or if the insulin doesn't work the way it should, glucose can't enter into your body cells. It stays in your blood stream. Your blood glucose level then gets too high, causing diabetes. Excess glucose in the blood results in high levels of glucose in urine also, which is called glycosuria in medical science. This increases the urine output, which leads to dehydration and increased thirst.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is categorized into two main categories and one subcategory. The categories are:

1.    Type 1 Diabetes

2.    Type 2 Diabetes

3.    Subcategory - Gestational Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. This type of diabetes is categorized as an autoimmune disease, which occurs when the body's misdirected immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Although genetic or environmental triggers are suspected but, the exact cause of type 1 diabetes—once referred to as insulin-dependent or juvenile-onset diabetes—is not completely understood. It can occur at any age, most patients are diagnosed as teenagers or young adults. About 5 to 10 percent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes or non insulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. This type of diabetes is characterized as insulin resistance in the body. Because of this resistance, the body's fat, liver and muscle cells are unable to take in and store glucose , which is used for energy. The glucose remains in the blood. The abnormal build-up of glucose (blood sugar) can result in hyperglycemia (increased level of glucose in blood) and impaired body functions. Type 2 diabetes occurs most often in people who are overweight because fat interferes with the body's ability to use insulin, but it also can occur in thin people and the elderly. Family history and genetics play a major role in type 2 diabetes, inactivity and poor diet can also increase the risk.

Gestational Diabetes

Some women develop gestational diabetes during the late stages of pregnancy. Undiagnosed or untreated gestational diabetes can lead to problems such as high birth weight and breathing problems for the baby. It is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin. Although this form of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born. A woman who had it, her child is more likely to develop diabetes later in life.

Causes:

·         Excessive intake of sugar and fats.

·   Excessive intake of heavy foods that is difficult to digest such as proteins and fats containing foods.

·         Lack of exercise or physical activity.

·         Obesity

·         Laziness

·         Mental stress

·         Hereditary factors

·         Excessive Sleep in day time.

Symptoms:

·         Frequent urination

·         Increase thirst

·         Increased hunger

·         Blurred vision

·         Poor wound healing

·         Lack of interest and concentration

·         Bodyache

·         Prolonged and unexplained fatigue

·         Numbness, tingling or burning sensations in the hands, legs or feet

·         Gynecological fungal infections in women

·         Sexual impotence in men

 AYURVEDIC OVERVIEW OF DIABETES 

In Ayurveda, Diabetes mellitus (DM) is described under the heading of PRAMEHA as Madhumeha (Madhu means ‘honey’ and Meha means ‘urine’) which means flow of glucose or sugar in urine. 

According to Ayurveda, it occurs due to vitiation of KAPHA dosha. But, in some conditions VATA dosha can also involve causing deterioration of Dhatus (body tissues), this is the reason why all vital organs are affected by Diabetes. Therefore, if left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease, heart disease, and stroke as complications. 

As per Ayurvedic concept, the other prime cause of Diabetes Mellitus is impaired digestion. As we know, the food we eat is digested by our digestive system to produce nutrient juice. This nutrient juice absorbed by the villi (Millions of tiny finger-like projection that protrude from the inner lining of the intestinal wall for rapid absorption of digestion products.) and mixed with the plasma. Plasma works as a raw material for building healthy tissues in body. It flows throughout the body like the sap in a tree, which delivers vital nutrients to the cells including Pancreatic cells, which secretes “INSULIN”. Due to poor eating habits and weak digestion, toxins or ama created and mixed with plasma. These toxins accumulate, circulate, and build up in the pancreatic cells (beta cells in the islets of Langerhans), which cause decreased rate of production of Insulin hormone. 

In Charaka Samhita - An Ayurvedic text, it is described that PRAMEHA or Diabetes mellitus is of two types:

1.Sahaja Prameha 

It occurs due to genetic factors and can be compared to Type 1 Diabetes, which can be seen mostly in lean individuals.

2. Apathya Nimittaja Prameha

It occurs due to unhealthy diet and lifestyle. It can be compared to Type 2 Diabetes, which can be seen mostly in obese individuals.

Therefore, depending on the physical constitution or Ayurvedic personality (prakriti) of individual and the current status of health, Ayurveda recommends two different types of treatment plans, which are very effective and successful for diabetic people. 

1.Apatarpana (de-nourishment) and Samshodhana (cleansing)

This Ayurvedic diabetic treatment is prescribed to patient who is obese and heavily built. In this process, treatment focus on de-nourishment of fats and elimination of toxins from the body through various types classical ayurvedic medicines, exercises and diet plan. 

2. Santarpana (replenishment) and Brumhana (body bulk promotion)

This Ayurvedic diabetic treatment is prescribed to patient who is chronically ill, with low immunity and underweight due to the draining of essential nutrients. This Ayurvedic treatment provides essential nutrients to rebuild body tissues in form of medicinal and diet plans, which helps patient to strengthen the defence mechanism without increasing circulating blood sugar, fats and other metabolites. This prevents further damage and ensures enhanced healing.

Diet and Lifestyle for Diabetics

·    Eat vegetables such as Bitter Gourd, garlic, onion, string beans, cucumber and fruits such as Amla (Emblica officinalis / Indian Gooseberry) & Jamun (Jambolan / Syzygium cumini).

·     Include at least one dish having bitter taste, in your every meal.

·     Avoid sugar in any form - rice, potato, pineapple, grapes, and mangoes.

·     Avoid sour, salty, oily and spicy foods.

·   Fat should also be limited because due to accumulation of toxins, there may be a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes, making fat digestion difficult.

·    Raw vegetables such as salad plays an important role in stimulating the pancreatic cells (beta cells in the islets of Langerhans) and enhancing insulin production.

·     Have your meals at regular timings and limit your overall intake.

·     Avoid sleeping in the daytime, which is responsible for aggravation of Kapha dosha.

·    Start doing some light exercises such as walking. Exercise helps your body to use its blood sugar efficiently. It also helps insulin to work better and to control weight along with psychological wellbeing. Therefore, you should all try to do exercise for about 30-40 minutes in the morning and again in the evening. Yogic postures and Pranayama (breathing exercise) are also important part of the treatment of Diabetes.

·    Avoid curd – Ayurveda says curd is one of the big causes of diabetes. Especially curd consumption at night is not encouraged as per Ayurveda concept.

·     Avoiding fresh grains – Ayurveda encourages to use grains, which are at least one year old. So, new grains are to be avoided.

Home Remedies for Diabetics

·  Drink two tablespoon of bitter gourd (karela) juice with 2 teaspoon of emblica officinalis (amla) juice, twice a day.

·   Drinking a glass of water along with 10 tulsi (Basil) leaves, 10 neem (margosa) leaves on an empty stomach in morning.

·  Mix powdered Fenugreek seeds and turmeric in equal proportion. Take one teaspoon of this powder with a glass of water twice daily.
Put one cup of water into a copper vessel overnight and drink this water in the morning.

·   Eating garlic every day, early in the morning on an empty stomach is helpful to reducing the level of blood sugar or glucose. It is also helpful to lowering blood pressure.

·    Take 2-3 gms of powdered Jamun (Jambolan / Syzygium cumini) seeds with water, twice a day.