Diabetes

The ailment is not incurable. It can be cured. Diabetes is known as Madhumeh in Hindi. It is the most common ailment today. The most common cause of Diabetes is improper eating habits or eating too much. Once this problem arises it is very difficult to cure. It is important to cure this disease at the earliest otherwise the heart, kidneys, liver, brain and eyes can get severely affected. Diabetic patients can even faint due to weakness and might succumb if not treated properly on time. When one becomes afflicted by Diabetes the first effect that is perceived is on ones body weight. The most reliable test for Diabetes is the blood test. For this many methods are prevalent. It is necessary to get a proper medical cheek up before starting the cure.

A Diabetic patient should take special care of his diet and should keep some points in mind. One should take enough calories. For a middle aged patient at least 1000 calories are needed daily. But one should consume less of sugar and carbohydrates. One can have regular meals and should consume more of liquids. A small cup of milk or tea without sugar can be had several times a day. Coconut milk, creamless butter, milk, curd, fruit, vegetable juice, turnips, radish, papaya, carrots, lemon, oranges are some items good for Diabetic patients. Very sweet fruits should be avoided. Eating bitter gourd (Karela ) can prove to be very beneficial. A cup of its juice daily can work wonders. Pulses are very healthy food for diabetics but they should be eaten in proper amount. One should choose the pulses which are easily digestible. Green leafy vegetables are a must. Overweight patients should avoid starchy food and eat less of butter and ghee. They should also shun potatoes, sweet potato and other tubers. Diabetes is counted among the incurable and painful ailments hence one should not be careless. In the Allopathic system of medicine insulin injections are prescribed. Insulin sure enough lowers the sugar level but it does not cure the problem. Ayurved medicines like Aarogyavardhini Vati, Chandraprabha Vati, Vasant Kusumakar Ras, Juice of Neem leaves and bitter gourd can root out this problem. But these medicines should be taken under the guidance of an Ayurved physician. Neem capsules prove to be really beneficial.

Fruit of Jamun, fenugreek seeds are also very beneficial in diabetes. A diabetic should go for a walk daily in the morning and evening. A balanced diet on time is also very important. Following are some remedies which are time tested for the control of Diabetes. 1. Take 48 grams each of covering of Paast and seeds of Jamun and powder them. Consume half spoon morning and evening with cold water. 2. Take three grams of Jamun leaves and crush them fine. Eat with water. Do this regularly for ten days. 3. Take equal amounts of seeds of Jamun and dry Amlas (embelic myrobalan). Powder them and filter them through a fine sieve. Eat seven grams daily early morning with cow milk. 4. Eat turmeric powder (haldi) daily twice with cold water on an empty stomach. 5. Take flesh of the plant Ghee Gawar (Aloe vera) and eat it daily on an empty stomach for three four months. 6. Include bitter gourd (Karela) and fenugreek seeds (Methi) in your food daily. Diabetes is a problem which continues lifelong. But by proper eating habits one can control it and live a healthy life.

Diabetes Diabetes mellitus affects one in a 100 people. It is a life-long problem. In most cases, however it can be kept under control by daily usage of drugs. Dietics also playa role in the management.

Background Diabetes has been recognised since ancient times and is of particular importance because of its wide prevalance. The name is derived from the sweet taste of urine from patients with this disorder (mellitus = honey) due to the glycosuria resulting from elevated levels of blood glucose. In Ayurveda, it is known as "Madhu Meha" i.e., passing honey-like urine.

Definition

Diabetes mellitus is a condition of impaired carbohydrate utilisation caused by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. There are two main types of diabetes: insulin dependent diabetes and non-insulin dependent diabetes.

1. Insulin Dependent Diabetes This type occurs when the body produces virtually no insulin. This usually develops in the early teens though it can appear later. It usually develops very quickly, often over a few days. The child or young adult feels increasingly weak, becomes intensely thirsty, and passes large quantities of urine. She/he may lose weight rapidly because, unable to use or store its glucose, the body draws on its stores of fat or energy. There may also be confusion and sleepiness. Without prompt treatment, the condition can worsen to such an extent that the diabetic may lose consciousness and pass into a coma. The breath may smell of alcohol.

2. Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes It is a milder form resulting when the body produces some insulin but not enough for its requirements. Most people in this group are over 40 years and over-weight. The initial symptoms of thirst and excessive urine usually come on over a period of months (gradual onset). Other symptoms like tiredness, a feeling of pins and needles and blurred vision may also occur. But it is very rare for the older diabetic to go into a coma.

Diabetics Characteristics Diabetics are more prone to suffer from certain types of infection than other people, because sugar encourages the growth of bacteria/fungi and viri.

Common problems that occur are: Recurrent boils and carbuncles; thrush and itching in the genital regions because of high blood sugar levels in the urine, and the failure of cuts and other injuries to heal.

Causes Diabetes is caused by a lack of the hormone insulin, which controls the way the body uses sugar. When one consumes bread, cakes, biscuits and other foods containing sugar and starch, the digestive process

in the bowel breaks down the sugar and starch into glucose, which is absorbed into the blood stream. Insulin, which is produced in the pancreas, a small organ located just below the stomach, helps the body process the glucose in the blood, so that it can be used to fuel muscle activity and other body functions. After processing, any excess can be stored in the liver as glycogen to be converted later into energy or fat. In diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to allow the glucose in the blood to be used. In some cases, no insulin at all is produced. Heredity plays an important part in this disease. Nearly one-third of diabetics have a family history of insulin deficiency. Age can also cause the pancreas to become inefficient. Many of those who develop the disease in later life are over-weight.

Herbal Medicines 1. Insulin Dependent Diabetes Home remedies or herbal drugs are not yet all effective in this condition, i.e., total lack of insulin. Only insulin injections at regular intervals as determined by the specialist should be taken under his direct supervision.

Dietics Once on insulin, diabetics must be careful about food/diet. Regular meals throughout the day are a must. If they have an insulin injection and do not eat, the level of glucose in the blood stream will fall dramatically, and they can become the victims of a hypoglycaemic attack. Insulin dependent diabetics, apart from regular meals, need to be particularly careful about the quantity of sugar and starch that they eat. They need some but not too much. So diabetic diets are prescribed to contain specified amounts of sugar. A special diabetic diet recommended by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) Hyderabad is reproduced in the 'THERAPEUTIC DIETS' chapter of this book for the benefit of the diabetics. Now-a-days simple kits are available for testing and monitoring the level of sugar in the urine and as well as in blood. This way diabetics can keep their own check and get remedial measures. If there is a low level of sugar, they can take little bit of sugar to avoid hypoglycaemia.

2. Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes This type of diabetes known as NIDD type usually improves with a carefully controlled diet to rid them of any excess weight and reduce their sugar and starch intake.

A regular check should be kept on the blood sugar level, and if it settles in the normal range, no further treatment is needed. In case, if diet alone is not sufficient, one should try some home remedies before switching over to regular treatment.

Amla (Indian gooseberry) fresh juice 10ml and 2 grams pure haldi (turmeric) powder well mixed and taken twice a day, effectively maintains the sugar level and imparts many side benefits like strength and vitality. Bitter gourd, popularly known as karela possesses the well marked anti-diabetic activity - Ayurveda also recommends the daily use of this vegetable. The active principle of this "plant insulin" is useful in lowering the sugar levels in blood and urine. Fresh juice of two karelas (approximately 20ml) should be taken on empty stomach in the early morning daily. The regular practice of this gives enormous benefits to the diabetics.

Fenugreek: The National Institute of Nutrition, (NIN), Hyderabad, recently found that fenugreek seeds are effective in controlling diabetes. It is found to be effective in lowering the serum cholesterol and triglycerides apart from sugar. Therefore, this item should be added to chapatis, and eaten regularly, apprx. 25 gm of fenugreek seeds are needed daily. Black Berry: also known as kala jamun is another home remedy for diabetes. It is extensively used in Ayurveda and other systems of medicine - its bark, fruits, seeds are useful. The inner bark of the jamun tree is used in the treatment. Unboiled milk mixed with equal quantity of water taken early in the morning on empty stomach gives very good result. Juice of satavar mixed with equal quantity of milk taken once daily is very helpful in controlling sugar level in blood. Ayurvedic Remedies Jambavasav an oral liquid prepared from this bark is available in the Ayurvedic stores. 15mL of this liquid with equal quantity of water should be taken twice daily hour after meals. Useful Ayurvedic drugs available in the market are listed in the glossary of Ayurvedic drugs appended. Pramch Mihir Tailam is very good for external massage in the abdominal region. Jambulin tablets (Unjha) in the dose of 2 tablets twice daily with water or milk cures early cases of diabetes. Diabecon tablets (Himalaya Drugs) in the dose of 1 to 2 tablets twice daily can be given depending upon the patient. Hyponidd tablets (Charak) can also be added to the existing allopathic medicines for diabetes. Glucomap tablets (Maharishi Ayurved) in the dose of 1 to 2 tablets twice or

thrice daily is very useful in diabetes.Madhumeharyog tablets (Baidyanath) produce good results in the dose of 1 to 2 tablets once or twice a day. Do's & Don'ts Dietics: See the special diets recommended in the chapter 'Therapeutic Diets'. Exercise: It is a key factor in the management of diabetes. Briskwalks, jogging, light games and swimming are good toners of the body. Yoga: Suitable Asanas are Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana, Sarvangasana etc. These should be performed under expert guidance.