Made by Ms. Sindhu Vas, M.Sc. Food Science & Nutrition Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Prajna, BAMS, MD Ayurveda…
Read MoreDiabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar. Normally, a hormone known as insulin moves sugar (or glucose) out of your bloodstream into cells when it’s used for energy. However, in people who are diabetic, this process doesn’t work properly either because there’s insufficient insulin or because the insulin doesn’t function effectively. There are 3 kinds of diabetes:
Additionally, many people suffer from prediabetes, a condition where they have abnormally high blood sugar but it’s not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes have a higher risk of developing diabetes.[1][ Diabetes]. National Health Service.
In ayurveda, diabetes is known as “madhumeha”. It is considered to be one of 20 urinary disorders (prameha). The following factors are thought to contribute to its development:
Shodhana (purification) and shamana (suppression) therapies may be carried out under the supervision of your ayurvedic doctor to treat this condition.[2]Purkait, Pulakes, and Moumita Bhattacharya. “Prameha and its Ancient Ayurvedic Medicine in India.” GUIDELINES FOR THE CONTRIBUTORS (2012): 638. However, there are also some measures that you can take at home which can help you manage this condition better.
Want to know about some of the best medicine for diabetes without side effects? Read on:
Having a healthy balanced diet is important to control diabetes. This means including foods from all food groups – vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins, low or nonfat dairy – in your diet. You should also limit foods high in saturated fats, trans fats, salt, and added sugar.[3][Diabetes Diet, Eating, & Physical Activity]. National Institutes of Health. According to ayurveda, a diet including the following foods can be helpful for people with diabetes:
Fatty foods contribute a lot of calories, therefore, they should be consumed in moderation. But do include foods that provide heart healthy unsaturated fats in your diet. This way, you can control diabetes. These include:
Excess weight is a significant risk factor when it comes to type-2 diabetes. Being overweight increases your chances of developing type-2 diabetes by seven times while those who are obese have a 20 to 40 times higher risk of developing diabetes than someone who is at a healthy weight.[7][ Simple Steps to Preventing Diabetes]. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Moreover, according to the American Diabetes Association, losing 7 to 10% of their body weight can help prevent the progression of this condition in people with prediabetes.
Diet and exercise are the two main building blocks of a weight loss plan. But don’t go for a fad diet that promises a quick fix. Set reasonable goals – such as losing around 1 to 2 pounds a week.[8][Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-prevention/art-20047639 “Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking … Continue reading An easy way of making sure that you have appropriate portions of different foods when you reduce calories is to adopt the plate method. Here you divide up a 9-inch plate into
You can also have fruit and milk products as per your meal plan.[9][Diabetes Diet, Eating, & Physical Activity]. National Institutes of Health.
Many spices and herbs commonly used in Indian cooking don’t just enhance flavor but also provide many health benefits. The following spices and herbs are considered good medicines for diabetes and have anti-diabetic effects:
Over time, not getting sufficient sleep can raise your risk for not just type 2 diabetes but obesity, heart disease, and depression too. It’s also harder to control diabetes if you regularly get less than 7 hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep can:
If you find it difficult to fall asleep at night, the following tips might help:
Some research indicates that low daily total water intake is associated with diabetes. In fact, one study also found that just 3 days of low total water intake in people with type 2 diabetes acutely impaired their blood glucose response. So, water is considered one of the medicines for diabetes.[23]Johnson, Evan C., Costas N. Bardis, Lisa T. Jansen, J. D. Adams, Tracie W. Kirkland, and Stavros A. Kavouras. “Reduced water intake deteriorates glucose regulation in patients with type 2 … Continue readingExperts suggest that men need around 2.6 liters of fluids in a day while women need around 2 liters. You’ll need more (2.3 to 2.6 liters) if you’re pregnant or lactating.[24][Water – a vital nutrient]. Better Health Channel. Keep a water bottle at your desk so that you don’t forget to hydrate during the day.
Stress can make it harder to stick to healthy habits such as eating right, exercising, and getting proper rest. This in turn can have an effect on your blood sugar levels. Moreover, hormones linked to stress can not only raise your blood sugar levels they can also increase your blood pressure and your heart rate.[25][Diabetes: Stress & Depression].Cleveland Clinic.Simple steps like planning ahead for stressful events or days, managing your time more effectively, practicing calming breathing exercises, and talking about your feelings with family, friends, or a professional can be helpful in managing stress.[26][Stress].NHS,UK.
If you are diabetic regular physical activity can make your body more sensitive to the hormone insulin and helps reduce your blood sugar. It also lowers your risk for nerve damage and heart disease.
Experts suggest that you should get two and a half hours of moderate-intensity activity a week. This does not have to be a complicated routine as long as it makes you breathe harder. So walking fast, climbing stairs, strenuous housework, everything counts. Also include activities that work your major muscle groups (back, hips, legs, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms) on 2 or more days in a week. Doing this can help you control diabetes. Studies have also found that yoga – specifically asanas such as Dhanurasana, Ardhamatsayendrasana, Halasana, Vajrasana, Bhujangasana, Naukasana – can be helpful for people with diabetes.[27]Sahay, B. K. “Role of yoga in diabetes.” JAPI 55 (2007): 121-6.
If you’re sold on the benefits of physical activity but are finding it difficult to get started here are a few helpful tips:
This should have answered your question on how to control diabetes without medicine.
Diabetes can have an impact on your pregnancy. Here are a few pointers for you to consider:
Women can develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Here are a few points to consider about this condition:
This is how you can manage gestational diabetes.
References
↑1 | [ Diabetes]. National Health Service. |
---|---|
↑2 | Purkait, Pulakes, and Moumita Bhattacharya. “Prameha and its Ancient Ayurvedic Medicine in India.” GUIDELINES FOR THE CONTRIBUTORS (2012): 638. |
↑3, ↑9 | [Diabetes Diet, Eating, & Physical Activity]. National Institutes of Health. |
↑4, ↑5 | Srinivas, P., K. Prameela Devi, and B. Shailaja. “Diabetes mellitus (madhumeha)-an ayurvedic review.” Int J Pharm Pharm Sci 6, no. Suppl 1 (2014): 107-110. |
↑6 | [Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control]. Mayo Clinic. |
↑7 | [ Simple Steps to Preventing Diabetes]. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. |
↑8 | [Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-prevention/art-20047639 “Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control”). Mayo Clinic. |
↑10 | Upasani, S. V., P. V. Ingle, P. H. Patil, R. Y. Nandedkar, V. S. Shah, and S. J. Surana. “Traditional Indian spices useful in Diabetes Mellitus–an updated review.” J. Pharm. BioSci 4 (2013): 157-161. |
↑11 | Verspohl, Eugen J., Katrin Bauer, and Eckhard Neddermann. “Antidiabetic effect of Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum zeylanicum in vivo and in vitro.” Phytotherapy Research: An International Journal Devoted to Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of Natural Product Derivatives 19, no. 3 (2005): 203-206. |
↑12 | [Can Spices Cause Allergic Reactions?]. American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. |
↑13 | [Ginger].Verywell Fit. |
↑14 | [Turmeric: potential adverse effects and interactions]. NHS,UK. |
↑15 | [Cinnamon].National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. |
↑16 | [Health Benefits of Cinnamon]. Verywell Fit. |
↑17 | [fenugreek]. University of Michigan Health. |
↑18 | [Garlic].National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. |
↑19 | [Medications and Herbs That Affect Bleeding]. Stanford University School of Medicine. |
↑20 | [The Health Benefits of Cumin]. Verywell Fit. |
↑21 | [Sleep for a Good Cause].Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
↑22 | [10 tips to beat insomnia].NHS,UK. |
↑23 | Johnson, Evan C., Costas N. Bardis, Lisa T. Jansen, J. D. Adams, Tracie W. Kirkland, and Stavros A. Kavouras. “Reduced water intake deteriorates glucose regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes.” Nutrition research 43 (2017): 25-32. |
↑24 | [Water – a vital nutrient]. Better Health Channel. |
↑25 | [Diabetes: Stress & Depression].Cleveland Clinic. |
↑26 | [Stress].NHS,UK. |
↑27 | Sahay, B. K. “Role of yoga in diabetes.” JAPI 55 (2007): 121-6. |
↑28 | [Get Active!]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
↑29 | [diabetes and exercise]. Diabetes UK. |
↑30 | [Pregnancy if You Have Diabetes]. National Institutes of Health. |
↑31 | [Gestational Diabetes].NHS,UK. |
Dr. Aswathy has 10+ years of experience as an Ayurvedic consultant and medical officer in different nursing homes and hospitals. She has a deep knowledge of classical texts, Ayurvedic treatments, and Panchkarma. Dr. Aswathy is proficient in diagnosis through traditional Ayurvedic means and plans treatment that is specific to an individual’s constitution.
Made by Ms. Sindhu Vas, M.Sc. Food Science & Nutrition Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Prajna, BAMS, MD Ayurveda…
Read MoreMade by Ms. Sindhu Vas, M.Sc. Food Science & Nutrition Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Prajna, BAMS, MD Ayurveda…
Read MoreMade by Ms. Sindhu Vas, M.Sc. Food Science & Nutrition Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Prajna,…
Read MoreMade by Ms. Sindhu Vas, M.Sc. Food Science & Nutrition Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Prajna, BAMS, MD Ayurveda…
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