Ayurveda for Diabetes: A Guide to Wellness

Diabetes has become so common in today’s world that each of us knows at least one(or more) person who has it and takes medication for it. Although prevalent in adults, diabetes is slowly crawling its way to teenagers and children alike. Sedentary lifestyle, fast food consumption, and obesity are some of the many causes that have helped to accelerate this cause. According to Ayurveda, diabetes or “Prameha” is described as Madhumeha Kshaudrameha. This literally means urine that tastes like honey. Prameha is studied in-depth at our prominent Ayurveda Institute in Kerala. So read along to know more about Ayurveda for Diabetes: A Guide to Wellness.
 

Ayurveda’s Perspective on Diabetes

Unlike contemporary science, which categorises diabetes into two categories, Ayurveda categorises Prameha or diabetes into 20 sub-categories. These sub-divisions are based on doshas, with four divisions owing to Vata, six due to Pitta, and ten due to Kapha. The vast majority of diabetics have Type 2 diabetes, often known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is described in Ayurveda as Dhatupak Janya Vikriti, which means a disease caused by a defective metabolism leading to a derangement in the transformation process of body tissue (seven Dhatus) or Madhumeha Kshaudrameha, which literally means "excessive urine with a sweet taste like honey". Madhumeha is made up of two words:'madhu and meha,' where'madhu' means sweetness and'meha' means urine. So, Madhumeha is the sickness in which the urination has a quality similar to madhu (honey) in its colour, taste, smell, and consistency, as well as the pathognomonic symptoms of Prameha (i.e. increased frequency and quantity of urine). Madhumeha is listed as one of the Astamaharoga (eight main diseases) in the Charaka Samhita (Ayurvedic Text Book), indicating the severity of the ailment as described by the Ancient Sages.
 

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is classified into four types: Prediabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.

Prediabetes:  Having raised blood sugar levels (A1c between 5.7 and 6.4 per cent or fasting blood glucose level 100-125) that are greater than usual but not quite high enough to be considered diabetes type 2.

Type 1: The pancreas either does not produce any insulin or produces insufficient insulin to transfer sugar from the circulation into cells.

Type 2: Having high blood sugar levels that average 6.5 per cent or more as assessed by an A1C test, or having a fasting blood glucose level of 126 or higher

Gestational diabetes: Blood sugar levels that are abnormally high during pregnancy
 

Causes of Diabetes

Prediabetes causes: 

• Obesity or being overweight
• Diabetes during pregnancy.
• An unhealthy consumption of sugary drinks and the consumption of red meat.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women

Type-1 diabetes causes:

• Auto-immune illness occurs when the body's immune system erroneously targets the pancreas's insulin-producing beta cells.
• Bacterial or viral infections can wreak havoc on the body's immune system and contribute to diabetes.
• Factors of origin: Diabetes can be caused by variations in the HLA-DQB1, HLA-DQA1, and HLA-DRB1 genes, which aid in immune system response.
• Chemical toxins: Certain chemical toxins modify the immune response and harm pancreatic beta cells, resulting in diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes causes:

• Obesity and sedentary lifestyle
• Increased glucose synthesis in the liver
• Hereditary causes
• Dysfunctional Beta-cell in the pancreas

Gestational diabetes causes: 

• Obesity and being overweight
• Pregnancy weight gain that is excessive
• Weight gain caused by the polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Diabetes due to a genetic component
   

Symptoms of Diabetes

The symptoms differ between individuals. Diabetes has minimal symptoms in its early stages. Oftentimes we may remain unaware that we have the condition. However, harm to your kidneys, eyes and cardiovascular system may already be occurring. Typical symptoms include:

• Always being hungry
• Excessive thirst
• Lowered bladder control
• Unknown cause of weight reduction
• Drowsiness or fatigue
• Hazy Vision
• Wounds, sores, or bruises that take a long time to heal.
• Itchy, dry skin
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
• Yeast infections that occur on a regular or recurring basis on the skin, gums, bladder, or vagina.

Insulin resistance can also be seen in people with type 2 diabetes. Darkening skin around the neck or in the armpits, high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, yeast infections, and missed periods in young girls and women are all examples of this.
 

Ayurvedic Treatment for Diabetes

Aahara: The key technique is to maintain good health through meal planning. Overabundant consumption of sugary items should be avoided at all costs. We must address eating habits in order to reduce signs of illness. Keep in mind that eating habits can only influence 60% of illnesses. Individuals with diabetes should understand what, when, and how to consume a nutritious diet. Using tepid or cold water will also aid in a variety of ways. Herb like Fenugreek seeds, aloe vera, etc will help to manage diabetes without causing any negative side effects.

Vihaaraa: Learn more about the optimum way to take responsibility for fasting glucose and hypertension. Monitoring Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels will be an added benefit. You can choose a physical activity such as yoga, an enthusiastic stroll, or even swimming.

Aushadhi: The first two columns, Aahara and Vihara, are related to eating habits and lifestyle. Aushadhi is in charge of the unbalanced qualities that these two columns are unable to address.

In conclusion, Ayurveda has an in-depth analysis and treatment for diabetes of any type. If you are looking to learn about them, then you can undertake some Ayurvedic courses in India distance learning from The School of Ayurveda & Panchakarma, where traditional knowledge is imparted to one and all.