Diabetes Mellitus

The word Diabetes has been derived from two words:  diabetes (Greek) which means ‘siphon through’, and Mellitus (Latin) which means ‘Sweetened with Honey. Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder, i.e. it is caused due to the malfunctioning of the pancreas, which is responsible for the production of the hormone Insulin. 

Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic condition where the body is unable to produce or process Insulin, the food we consume is converted to glucose, and insulin aids the cells in the absorption of this glucose. When the above-mentioned condition occurs in the body i.e. affected by diabetes, it results in the body being unable to process food properly for energy. It leads to various other complications like weight gain, cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, etc.

Diabetes can strike anyone, from any walk of life. Today, more than 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes. Worldwide, more than 422 million people have diabetes.

In Ayurveda, diabetes is known as Madhumeha (Madhu means ‘Honey’ and Meha means ‘Urine’). Medhumeha is categorized as Vataj Meha (a problem caused by the aggravation of Vata Dosha). Vata is an Ayurvedic humor symbolizing wind and Dryness. Deterioration of the body is a characteristic that indicates impairment of Vata. Maximum deterioration of ‘Dhatus’ (Body Tissues) occurs in this type of disease and this is the reason why all vital organs are affected by Diabetes.

Etiological Factor of Diabetes…….

Different causes are associated with each type of Diabetes, there is no specific factor explained in Medical Text which causes Diabetes, for some reason the Immune System mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta-cell in Pancreas. (This situation is called ‘Auto-Immune Disorder’)

It’s also possible that a virus sets off the immune system attacks, some common factor that is responsible for the manifestation of diabetes is …

• Overweight
• Physically inactive
• Previously diagnosed with Glucose Intolerance.
• Unhealthy Dietary Habits and mealtime
• Above the age of 40 Years or Older
• Patient with High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol
• Family History of Diabetes
• History of Gestation Diabetes
• Prediabetics
• High Triglyceride
• African American, Hispano or Latin American, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, American Indian or Asian American Ancestry

Common Symptoms like ……

• Increased Hunger
• Increased Thirst
• Weight Loss
• Frequent Urination
• Blurry Vision
• Extreme Fatigue
• Sores that don’t heal

Types of Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus…. is an Autoimmune Disease where the individual’s body has destroyed the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, giving rise to an increase in blood and glucose level in the body. The symptoms are frequent urination, thirst, hunger, and drastic weight loss.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus… This generally occurs when we age or turn obese. In this case, even though the body is producing insulin, its sensitivity is reduced to a minimum and doesn’t respond as well as it should. The symptoms are similar to Type 1 and also include fatigue, vision impairment, and slow healing from cuts and wounds.

Gestational Diabetes occurs in women during Pregnancy, who didn’t have Diabetes. most women with Gestation Diabetes don’t have any symptoms, often detected during routine Blood Sugar Tests or Oral Glucose Intolerance tests, usually performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of Gestation.

Note – All kinds of medicine have side effects. But Ayurveda is considered the best natural medicine for Diabetes. The Natural Herbs which were being used for the last 5000 years in Indian Ayurvedic medicine do not have any kind of side effects. Natural Ayurvedic Herbs are a great boon to Diabetic patients.

Ayurvedic Concept with Management

In Ayurveda literature, Diabetes is named ‘Madhumeh’ or ‘Prameha’, The prime cause is explained as Impaired Digestion, Impaired Digestion leads to the accumulation of specific digestive impurities (Known as ‘Aam’) which accumulated in Pancreatic cells and impair the production of Insulin.

Ayurveda further added this ‘Ama’ becomes a responsible factor for aggravation of Vata Dosha(One of the Principle Dosha in the body, responsible for Movements and Function of the Body), and Vata is impaired/obstructed, Ojas that is sweet is transformed into astringent that makes it honey-like. Obstructed Vata causes all the tissues of the body to deteriorate which affects all the Vital Organs.

The treatment of Diabetes recommended in Ayurveda as against Modern Medicine, aimed at rejuvenating the body to not only Balance Sugar Levels, but also foster a positive change in the patient’s life.

Ayurvedic treatment for Diabetes in Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic, our ayurvedic experts recommend avoiding excess sweets, carbohydrates, red meat, seafood, and dairy products which are all thought to aggravate the ‘Kapha’ dosha. Instead, your diet should include Barley, Rye, Corn, Rice, Oats, Fresh Vegetables such as Asparagus, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Eggplant, Spinach, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, and herbs such as Ginger, Gokshura, Gudmar, Triphala, Musta, Cardamom, Fenugreek, or Coriander

Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic provides proper screening of patients and treatment for Ayurvedic treatments for Diabetes ranging from internal, Herbal Medications to purifying Panchakarma procedures such as Vamana, Virechana, Vasti, etc., based on the severity of the condition. These natural remedies are intended to enhance insulin sensitivity of type – 4 glucose receptors, thus reducing insulin resistance, and also enhance insulin secretion and regeneration of beta cells.

Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic has experienced the best treatment success rate in treating diabetes, customized therapies as prescribed by our doctors, regular Yoga, and physical exercise, an individually tailored low carbohydrate diet, and a low-stress level in day-to-day life goes a long way in maintaining normal blood glucose level.

Yoga helps in controlling diabetes. This is mainly because Yoga keeps a check on the causes of diabetes. Stress and obesity are the main causes that can lead to diabetes. Regular yoga practice with meditation reduces stress and slows down the fat accumulation in the body. Pranayama, Surya Namaskar, Balasana, Vajrasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana, Dhanurasana are few of the postures that are effective.