Manage Diabetes: The Ayurvedic way

Manage Diabetes: The Ayurvedic Way

Nowadays we live a very mechanical life. We rely on technology for even the

smallest of things, like ordering groceries, which makes us sedentary and inactive.

To top it all off, our daily diet is very high in fatty, carbohydrate-rich, processed foods

and sugary beverages. All this affects our bodies significantly but we do not realise it

till we reach an older age and the effects start to show.

Many of us have developed diseases due to this new way of living that was not

prevalent in the previous centuries. You might yourself have diabetes or know

someone who does. It is important to understand that it is not one individual’s fault

that he develops such a disease, but rather a larger systemic problem. Ayurveda has

always focused on the larger picture. We believe that trying to fix symptoms will just

temporarily put a bandage on the problem but not solve the root cause.

In this blog let us focus on Diabetes. In Ayurveda, diabetes is called Madhumeha

(literally translating to sweet urine). Prameha is a syndrome described in the ancient

Ayurvedic texts that includes clinical conditions involved in obesity, prediabetes,

diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. There are 20 subtypes of Prameha due

to the interaction of the three Doshas and 10 Dushyas. Sahaja Prameha and Jatah

Pramehi correlate with type 1 diabetes; Apathyanimittaja Prameha correlates with

type 2 diabetes. Madhumeha is a subtype of Vataja Prameha (Prameha with Vata

predominance) that can occur as the terminal stage of type 2 diabetes (in which

insulin is required), or as type 1 diabetes beginning in early childhood. The latter is

defined as Jatah Pramehi Madhumehino.

The ancient Ayurvedic knowledge regarding Prameha can be utilized to expand the

current understanding of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

Diabetes develops due to High Blood Sugar/Hyperglycemia which is an abnormal

amount of glucose in the blood. When blood sugar levels get high, the pancreas

releases insulin into the bloodstream. When a person has high blood glucose (blood

sugar) levels, it is known as a metabolic condition. It can happen either due to

insufficient insulin output or the body’s cells not responding properly to the generated

insulin, or both!

Diabetes can develop in two ways:

1. Dhatukshaya: loss of tissues (Dhatus) in the body

2. Avarana: blockage of pathways in the body

The blockage of channels is due to increased Kapha Dosha or other tissues such as

fat or muscle. This may cause maturity-onset diabetes.

Dhatukshaya is a form of juvenile diabetes where the tissues are weakened.

Due to the excess urinary excretion in diabetes mellitus, one very essential essence

in our body is lost, called “Ojas”. It is known as the essence of digestion and in turn,

life. It is even referred to as the extract of all Dhatus that provide power to the body,

mind and soul. Ojas helps in all aspects of the body- the physical, emotional,

sensory and other functions. Therefore when it is lost in diabetes mellitus, it is known

as Ojomeha (‘Ojo’ meaning Ojas and ‘meha’ meaning to flow or urination)

Diabetes Symptoms:

According to Ayurveda, Diabetes has three main signs- known as Rupas.

• Polyuria (excessive urination)

• The sensation of sweetness in the body

• Urinary sweetness

Other symptoms of diabetes are:

• Headache

• Sluggishness

• Polydipsia (excess thirst)

• Excessive sleep

• Diarrhoea

• General debility

• Burning sensation

• Inflammatory lesions

• Indigestion

• Necrosis

• Carbuncles

• Muscle wasting

Diabetes tends to affect all the Dhatus (tissues in the body):

• Rakta (blood): damaged quality of blood cells with high viscosity which makes

• them weak

• Rasa (plasma): hyperglycaemia

• Medhas (fat): hypertrophy of adipose tissue

• Mamsa (muscles): muscle wasting, necrosis

• Sira (arteries): atherosclerosis

• Snayu (nerves): neuropathies

• Majja (nervous tissue): degeneration of brain tissue

• Tvak (skin): necrosis, ulcers, carbuncles

• Asthi (bone): de-mineralization of bone tissue, reduced density

• Shukra (reproductive tissue): loss of libido which is passed onto generations

The Role of the Pancreas

The pancreas is also known as 'grahani' and is considered the special seat of agni

(fire) in the body. Let us first understand the pancreas in detail, then we can

understand its role in managing blood sugar levels.

This is an excerpt from “Textbook of Clinical Ayurvedic Medicine,” by Dr. Marc

Halpern, Founder of the California College of Ayurveda.

“The pancreas lies between the stomach and the spinal column. While most of the

gland is hidden behind the stomach, a portion of it lies close to the duodenum (first

portion of the small intestine). The pancreas is both an exocrine and an endocrine

gland. The exocrine portion is the part that creates digestive enzymes. These

enzymes are secreted into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct which joins the

common bile duct which in turn leads into the intestine. The endocrine portion

secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon directly into the bloodstream. These

hormones regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin lowers blood glucose levels by

allowing the glucose to enter the cells. Glucagon raises blood glucose levels by

stimulating the breakdown of glycogen in the liver.

Digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas include amylase for the digestion of

carbohydrates; lipase for the digestion of fats; and the proteolytic enzymes trypsin,

chymotrypsin and carboxypolypeptidase, which aid in the digestion of protein.”

Both the goals of Ayurveda and western allopathic medicine are the same when it

comes to treatment of type-2 diabetes: It is to bring the haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

value to a normal range. The main difference in the Ayurvedic approach is that it

aims to improve the functionality of a person overall by achieving a balance between

the doshas (or life forces) that everyone possesses.

Home Remedies

Ayurveda has many herbal remedies that will help manage blood sugar levels.

These foods and herbs are known to help stimulate the production of insulin in the

body as well as vitalise the pancreas. Go ahead and try them at home for yourself!

1. Gudmar, or Gymnema sylvestre

Gudmar literally translates to “sugar crusher”.

It is a woody vine which grows in the tropical regions of India, Africa, and Australia. It

contains certain compounds that include flavonols and gurmarin that have positive

effects on diabetics.

Have a teaspoon of powdered gudmar leaves along with water half an hour after

lunch and dinner. This helps regulate the absorption of carbohydrates in the body.

2. Jamun Seed

Jamun is known for its hypoglycemic properties, which has the ability to reduce

sugar in the blood.

In a glass of water, add a teaspoon of crushed jamun seed powder. Stir well with

water and drink it regularly on an empty stomach.

3. Amra

Packed with vitamins, amra helps boost body immunity, fights anaemia, keeps the

heart healthy and aids in digestion. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemical

properties that cause oxidation in the body system. It even helps to improve skin

vitality, to heal wounds quickly and reverse the harmful effects of free radicals. This

helps you deal with the symptoms of diabetes.

Raw amra makes a refreshing juice or you can add it to both red or yellow-split pea

lentils for a tangy, soupy wholesome dish.

4. Karela

‘Karela and diabetes’ are often heard together. This is because bitter gourd has a

compound that functions similar to insulin. It can reduce the blood glucose levels in

both type I and type II diabetes. Consuming a glass of karela juice is so effective that

diabetes patients need to reduce the dosage of their medicines. In fact, it can also

help manage Gestational diabetes(a type of diabetes that is first detected in

pregnant women who did not have diabetes before they were pregnant).

To consume it you can make a yummy sabzi out of karela and relish it in

lunch/dinner. You can also juice out raw karela and consume for immense health

benefits. Or, make a delicious spicy stuffing using karela and pack it into your

parantha!

A Simple Solution

Certain ayurvedic herbs in the correct proportions are very helpful in the

management of Diabetes. They work together by rejuvenating the Beta-cells in the

pancreas that helps control the blood sugar level. If you consume the right food and

implement the appropriate lifestyle changes, your diabetes CAN be managed.

However, we understand that it is difficult in today’s hectic world to keep track of

everything.

CCRAS, Ministry of Ayush, GOI has therefore created the Ayush-82 formula that

comes in pill and liquid form for easy tension-free consumption. It includes a

researched blend of ayurvedic herbs including the natural extracts of Karavallaka

(Momordica charantia), Jambu (Syzygium cuminii), Amra (Mangifera indica) &

Gudmar (Gymnema sylvestre) as major ingredients. It even has an additional

Shuddh Shilajit that helps a diabetic person stay energetic throughout the day, and

helps prevent low-grade fatigues.

SugCare which uses this Ayush 82 formula is clinically proven. After 60 days of study

on 805 patients, 77% of participants reported reduction in blood glucose levels by

Avg. 40 pts.

We hope you learned something about Diabetes and how to manage it today. To

know more about our ayurvedic solutions, reach out to us via chatbox, email or our

social media! We are always happy to discuss options with you one-on-one to help

you find the ideal ayurvedic solutions (including dosage according to your blood

sugar levels).