Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the pancreas is unable to manufacture sufficient insulin to control blood sugar, resulting in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Type II Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is a major problem worldwide because it is much more prevalent than Type I Diabetes and afflicts middle aged and mature individuals.
Type II Diabetes can be caused by lack of exercise combined with a poor diet high in sugar and simple carbohydrates. Symptoms include wounds that don’t heal, excessive urination, excessive thirst and increased hunger. Diabetes can lead to kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes, as well as nerve damage, blindness, the loss of fingers, toes and limbs, and ultimately death through diabetic coma.
In Ayurvedic medicine, diabetes is known as Prameha. It is primarily associated with Kapha dosha body types, but it can also be found among Vata and Pitta doshas. In Ayurveda, diabetes is treated with a combination of exercise, diet and herbs as described on Nirogi Tan.
Exercise – Regular exercise in any form is encouraged at least five times per week. Ayurvedic practitioners especially prescribe yoga, walks in the morning and evening and Pranayama which is a form of controlled breathing.
Herbs – Most Ayurvedic practitioners will start with a body cleansing (panchakarma). After that, Ayurvedic medicine treats diabetes with a variety of herbs including – turmeric, neem, triphala, shilajit, bitter melon, jambhul, fenugreek, jambhul, bel and gurmar.
Ayurvedic practitioners can also produce natural medicines such as chandrabrabha, arogvavardhini, asanad tablets, shilajit vati, trivanga bhasma and vasant kusumakar. A trained Ayurvedic practitioner should be consulted for the proper administration of these medicines.
Diet – Eliminate sugar, simple carbohydrates and sugary fruits. Limit your intake of both fat and protein. Instead, concentrate on foods rich in complex carbohydrates. Most green, leafy vegetables are also beneficial and encouraged.
Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which poor eating and exercise habits result in elevated blood sugar levels – but not high enough to classified as fully diabetic.
If you have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic, you must change your lifestyle. Left untreated, most pre-diabetics become full diabetics. Ayurveda living is an excellent way to correct your body digestion and metabolism to permanently lower your blood sugar levels.
