In recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in various diseases, posing significant challenges to global healthcare systems. This trend highlights profound shifts in lifestyle, environmental factors, and healthcare practices, contributing to the rising burden of illness.

Diabetes once thought to be confined to affluent societies, now affects people worldwide, regardless of socioeconomic status or location. Uncontrolled diabetes has severe consequences, including cardiovascular diseases, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness, impacting the quality of life and life expectancy of millions.

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar levels due to defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Chronic high blood sugar is linked to long-term damage and failure of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels.

Living with diabetes is challenging, but adopting changes to your diet and lifestyle can significantly improve your health and help manage the condition. Ayurveda emphasizes a balanced diet, proper nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle to control diabetes effectively.

According to Ayurveda, diabetes correlates with “prameha” and is caused by an imbalance in the doshas, particularly the Kapha dosha. This imbalance disrupts the natural flow of energy, leading to various health conditions. By understanding the doshic imbalances associated with diabetes, Ayurveda offers valuable insights into dietary and lifestyle modifications to restore balance.

Causes of Diabetes According to Ayurveda

Ayurveda identifies several lifestyle and dietary factors contributing to diabetes:

• Sleeping during the day (divaswapna)
• Lack of exercise (avyayam)
• Laziness (alasya)
• Sedentary habits (asyasukham)
• Consumption of cold, buttery, sweet, and fatty foods, such as excessive intake of milk and its products, newly harvested cereals, and foods that increase Kapha
• Excessive intake of sugarcane, jaggery, and repeated or excessive intake of food (Adhyashana)
• Stress (chinta)
• Genetic factors (Sahaj)
• Grief (shoka)
• Fear (bhaya)

Symptoms of Diabetes

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Extreme hunger
• Rapid weight loss
• Sudden mood swings
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Tingling and numbness in the feet and hands
• Sores that heal slowly
• Excessive sweating
• Bad body odor

Ayurvedic Treatment for Diabetes

1. Diet

Diet plays a central role in managing diabetes as it directly influences blood sugar levels, weight management, and overall health. Ayurveda recommends:

• Using old grains that are at least one year old
• Including barley, a superfood for diabetes
• Consuming Indian gooseberry, turmeric, green gram, horse gram, and wheat
• Eating fruits like jamun and berries, and vegetables that are bitter in taste

Foods to Avoid:

• Sugarcane, curd, newly harvested grains, sugar products, jaggery, alcohol, carbohydrate-rich foods (pishtanna), meat of aquatic animals (fish), day sleeping, and oily and processed foods.

2. Exercise

Exercise is crucial for managing diabetes as it helps muscles use glucose for energy, lowering blood sugar levels. Regular physical activity improves insulin sensitivity, allowing cells to better respond to insulin and uptake glucose from the bloodstream. Aim for at least 45 minutes of exercise per day. Ayurveda recommends engaging in activities that suit your body type and preferences, such as walking, yoga, swimming, or any exercise that benefits your heart, enhances insulin sensitivity, and supports a healthy weight.

3. Purificatory Measures

Panchakarma is a traditional Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation therapy that involves a series of treatments aimed at balancing the body’s doshas (bio-energies) and removing toxins (ama) from the body. Panchakarma therapies such as Vamana (therapeutic vomiting), Virechana (purgation), and Basti (medicated enema) are believed to eliminate toxins from the body, potentially improving overall health and metabolic function.

4. Stress Reduction

Stress can elevate blood sugar levels through the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Meditation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, and guided imagery can help reduce stress levels, promoting relaxation and a sense of calm. By managing stress, meditation may help stabilize blood sugar levels.

5. Adequate Sleep

Adequate sleep is essential for managing stress levels and promoting emotional well-being. Chronic stress can elevate cortisol levels, leading to insulin resistance and dysregulation of blood sugar levels. Getting enough sleep helps regulate stress hormones and promotes relaxation, which is beneficial for diabetes management. Note: Avoid sleeping during the day.

6. Medication

Trusted ayurvedic Medicines for Diabetes are:

1. Vasant Kusumakar Rasa: A valuable supplement for overall well-being, particularly targeting imbalances related to diabetes by improving pancreatic function and supporting metabolic processes.
2. Chandraprabha Vati: A traditional Ayurvedic formulation commonly prescribed for urinary system conditions. It may improve blood sugar levels and decrease the frequency of urination in people with diabetes.

*Seek professional advice from an Ayurvedic doctor before using any Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to managing diabetes, focusing on diet, exercise, detoxification, stress reduction, adequate sleep, and specific medications. By understanding and addressing the doshic imbalances that contribute to diabetes, individuals can achieve better health and improved quality of life. Integrating these Ayurvedic principles into daily life can provide a natural and effective way to manage diabetes and its complications.