Diabetes: How to Treat It with Ayurveda

Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which a person having a high blood sugar level than normal. Insulin hormone which is responsible to transfer the sugar from your blood into the cells for energy or for storage purpose to use them later in the body. Diabetes hinders the process of making insulin in sufficient form, as per body requirement or in some cases the insulin produced by pancreas in our body cannot use. As most of the cells in body use glucose with amino acids (the blocks used to build proteins) along with fats, hence it is main source of energy for cells in the body, also it is main source of energy for our brain, chemical  messengers and nerve cells are the helping hands to process the information, without them your brain is not able to work properly. The glucose which is used for energy is little used, and remaining is stored in the liver in little bundles which are known as glycogen and some time they are stored in the muscles, your body stores glucose for later use in a day for energy.

Untreated diabetes can be very harmful, as it affects the organs of our body directly.  It can harm kidneys, nerves, eyes and even other organs of the body also.

Types of Diabetes

1. Type 1 Diabetes

It is an autoimmune disease, the immune system itself is destroying the pancreas “the storehouse of making insulin”, and it affects around 10% of people who are suffering from diabetes.

2. Type 2 Diabetes

When sugar builds up in your blood and body becomes resistant to insulin.

3. Gestational Diabetes

During pregnancy, the placenta produced insulin blocking hormones, which cause high blood sugar. This is the main cause of this kind of diabetes.

4. Prediabetes

It is a condition when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it is not as high as compared to type 2 diabetes, mood changes.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

1. Frequent Urination: Patient suffering from diabetes has to urge to urine again and again.
2. Extreme Fatigue: Patient feels weakness and extreme fatigue in the body
3. Weight Loss: A person who is diabetic loses his weight as time passes.
4. Increased Hunger: The patient`s appetite towards food is more than normal.
5. Increased Thirst: The patient`s thirst is increasing with his diabetes.
6. Eyesight Problem: Patient of diabetes is getting a problem with his/her vision as diabetes directly affects

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

The symptoms are almost the same as in type 1diabetes except few:

1. Sores (wounds): Wounds are very slow to heal.
2. Increased thirst
3. Increased urination
4. Tiredness
5. Increased hunger
6. Blurry vision

Some Gender-Specific Symptoms

1. Symptoms in Men

Men with diabetes have poor muscle strength, Erectile dysfunction (Ed), decreased sex drive.

2. Symptoms in Women

Itchy and dry skin, urinary tract infections and yeast infections.

Home Remedies and Ayurveda for Treatment of Diabetes

In Ayurveda diabetes is known as “Madhumey” Ayurveda suggests as treatment of diabetes not to eat much sugar, and products made up of sugar like sweets and chocolates, etc. Vegetables which are leafy and green vegetables and grains with high fiber contents are the most preferred for people suffering from diabetes. According to Ayurveda if you keep your “Tridoshas” in check, threes 3 doshas like Vata, Pitta, Kaff you have to maintain balance in all of them to avoid getting any kind of disease, this rule applies in diabetes also.

There are some remedies for diabetes which are proven to be very safe and effective also for diabetes

1. Gooseberry (Amla)

Gooseberry is bitter in taste and also includes many properties that make it effective in diabetes. Make powder of Amla and add one teaspoonful of Amla in some warm water, mix it with lime and some rock salt for taste, this mixture is good for diabetes.

2. Ginger

Boil ginger in water and add green tea.  This liquid is beneficial for diabetes. Take a full cup of this mixture regularly twice a day. As ginger is helpful for digestion and it helps you to maintain your respiratory system also.

3. Turmeric

Patients with diabetic problems are advised to have around half teaspoonful of raw turmeric with Amla juice in warm water.

4. Water

Put simple water into a copper vessel (jug) overnight, early in the morning drink it on empty stomach according to your capacity, this is a healthy option for diabetes and it is also good for your overall health, it helps to pacify all three doshas Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

5. Spices

Spices like coriander, cinnamon, asafoetida, mustard are useful for a diabetic person.

6. Brown Rice

Having brown rice in your daily diet is useful option for diabetes as fiber content is very high in brown rice.

7. Green Tea

Green tea has the antioxidant known as” polyphonels” and another antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).  Antioxidant has many properties which are helpful in diabetes and overall health of an individual. It lowers cardiovascular disease risk, improves glucose control, improves insulin activity.

8. Magnesium

It is an essential substance for improving insulin sensitivity, lowers the risk of diabetes and if taken in balanced quantity, it helps to lower insulin resistance.

9. Resevartol

It is a chemical found in grapes and wines, it helps prevent high blood sugar.