Diabetes

Normal Insulin Production	Insufficient Insulin Production (Diabetes Mellitus)

World Diabetes Day was on 14 November and all across the world, events were taking place to draw attention to the threat of what is described as an epidemic that is out of control. The latest figures for the prevalence of diabetes are two years old.

Diabetes mellitus, more commonly referred to simply as diabetes, is a chronic degenerative disease caused by a lack of or resistance to the hormone, insulin, which is essential for the proper metabolism of blood sugar. Normally blood sugar rises after a meal, as glucose is absorbed into the blood stream, causing the pancreas to produce enough insulin to return the blood sugar level to its normal range. Diabetic individuals are either unable to produce insulin (Type 1 diabetes), or their cells have become resistant to insulin and they are unable to move glucose from the blood stream to the cells (Type 2 diabetes), and thus cannot maintain a normal blood glucose level.

The worries of health professionals is the type 2 diabetes, which is a variety that is spreading so fast, is on a seemingly unstoppable rise in villages and rural areas. Type 2 diabetes is known as the "disease of affluence"; it preys on people who, as they become better off, take less exercise and change their diet away from fresh vegetables and fruit.

Symptoms may include fatigue, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no symptoms. Diabetes can damage your eyes, kidneys and nerves. It can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb.

A new study gives the strongest evidence yet that Gastric bypass surgery can cure type 2 diabetes. For this the best medicine is weight loss.

An Ayurvedic Approach for Diabetes:

Diabetes can Affect Various Parts of your Body.

Ayurveda is the 'Way of Life’, which addresses all the problems under the category of Lifestyle Diseases with time-tested methodologies. It treats the "whole person" and enables better management of diabetes by taking care of individual’s psychosocial aspects. According to ayurveda, diabetes is a Kapha type of disorder in which diminished functioning of Agni (Digestive fire) leads to a tendency toward high blood sugar. Ayurveda recognizes 24 forms of the diabetes commonly classified under Prameha - 4 are due to Vata dosha, 6 are due to Pitta dosha, and 10 are caused by Kapha dosha. The main causes of these diseases are fat, urine, and Kapha buildups due to various foods, liquids, lifestyle and others.

Management of Diabetes at IVAC:

We at IVAC treat diabetes using a multiprong approach. First, we address diet modification, controlling the intake of sugar and some carbohydrates, and emphasizing complex carbohydrates. Since many diabetics have autoantibodies, a cleansing program is instituted called Panchakarma. This begins with herbal massages. This is followed by an herbal purge (Virechana) for the liver, pancreas, and spleen. The process begins with the cleansing of the digestive tract. Diabetes could be brought under control by reverting to a healthier life style as mentioned below.

	Diet – Avoid Sugar in any form – rice, potato, bananas, cereals and fruits contain high percentage of sugar contents. Do away with fatty stuff. Go for the following low – calorie, low fat alkaline diet of high quality natural foods. Emphasis should be on raw vegetables and herbs as they play a part in stimulating the pancreas and enhancing insulin production.
	Exercise is another cornerstone of ayurvedic treatment of diabetes. Exercise - Shun a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise helps in burning fat, reducing stress and reducing weight. These are key ingredients of diabetes control. Cycling, swimming, jogging etc are helpful to fight diabetes.
	Yoga and breathing exercises are traditionally used to get rid of Diabetes. Daily routine of breathing exercises, meditation and poses enhance digestion and help the pancreas and liver function more normally, regulating blood sugar levels. Cobra (Bhujang Asana) Locust (Shalabh Asana) and Bow (Dhanur Asana) are some asanas that help diabetics.
	Quit Smoking – Smoking resist the body in the production of insulin. Smoking while having diabetes also increase your risk of getting complications such as eye, kidney and nerve problems.
	Reduce Alcohol consumption – Many alcoholic drinks contain sugar. Excessive alcohol can increase your blood sugar to dangerous levels.
	Occupation: Certain occupations like being a pilot, armed forces, deep sea diving and working on a ship are not advisable for persons with diabetes
	Don’t indulge in day-time sleep.

Happy Healing at IVAC !