Tag: Diabetes Herbal Remedies

Natural Ways to Prevent Diabetes – Healthy and Balanced Diet for Diabetics

How to Control Diabetes Naturally

Overview

There are many natural ways to prevent getting diabetes, you need to be a little alert in selecting the food you are having routinely. It doesn’t matter if you have type 1 or type 2 kind of diabetes, you might gain, lose or maintain your weight, but it becomes most important to choose a healthy food and not the usual crap. If you take healthier food, than you lower the risk of getting diabetic. But every one doesn’t agree as each person has a unique taste and liking and disliking, one food might be good for one and bad for another. Today we are going to discuss general foods that can help in preventing diabetes. So choose a diet after consulting your doctor, only then you can save yourself from getting diabetic.

Natural Ways to Prevent Diabetes

Select Healthy Carbohydrates:

  • All carbs influence the glucose level of the body. Select the foods that have healthy carbs. Some of the foods that can join you in general are whole grains like brown rice, white oats and buckwheat. Fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, pulses like beans, lentils and chick peas, dairy products like unsweetened yogurt and milk.
  • Also keep another thing in your mind, to some diets that should be avoided like the foods that have low fiber in them like white bread, white rice and highly processed cereals. If you still feel perplexed while choosing, look at their labels before you buy them, check the ingredients, foods with fiber are in and avoid all other foods that have low fiber content.

High Fiber Diet

Eat Less Salt:

  • When you consume lots of salt, you run the risk of getting high blood pressure, which enhances the chances of getting heart disease and a stroke, might prove fatal for you. If you already are suffering from diabetes then you are more at risk of having a stroke.
  • Set a limit, not exceeding 6g (1 teaspoonful) a day. Mostly the food packages have their labels on them, better do the checking before you buy it. If you are cooking yourself, you can have a keen eye on how much salt are you putting in your dishes? You can also become creative by adding different herbs and swap salt with something that enhances the flavor of your dishes.

Avoid Meat products:

  • If you are having non-vegetarian food or you are habitual to, you have to set a limit or quit it completely as all kind of meat is related to cancer in one way or the other. Try swapping the meat with pulses like beans and lentils, which are rich in having fiber and don’t affect your blood glucose level too much and keeps your stomach in a hunky dory position. Try eating the herbs that have omega-3 fatty acids that protect your heart. Get vegetarian diet, it will also keep you fit & fine.

Eat more Fruits and Veggies:

  • Enhance your diet by eating more green veggies and fruits which can be eaten as snacks, whenever you feel hungry. This will get you more vitamins, minerals and fiber that is required by your body to stay fit & fine.
  • Fruits are sweet but contain natural sugar which is never harmful.
  • The whole fruit is great for everyone, even if you have diabetes.
  • As their juices do contain some added sugar, so better eat the fruit in its raw form.
  • Keep eating fruits all day long, don’t eat them in excess in one go.
  • It will keep your body satisfied and in a enthusiastic manner.
  • If you are already diabetic, choosing a diet gets tough that will help in keeping your diabetes in control.
  • However it is more important to eat foods that don’t allow diabetes to raise its ugly head.
  • Here are some of the foods that help in keeping your diabetes in check, type 1 or type 2, doesn’t matter.

Fruits and Veggies for diabetics

Choose healthy Fats:

  • Everybody needs some fat to provide energy to the body to do any physical activity, but there are bad fats too that harm the body in different types.
  • Healthier fats can be found in foods like unsalted nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, grape seed oil and sunflower oil.
  • Some of the saturated fats can enhance the amount of cholesterol level in your blood; and cause the risk of some heart problems.

Such fats can be found in animal products like:

  • Red & processed meat
  • Ghee
  • Butter
  • Lard
  • Biscuits, cakes, and pastries.

Healthy Tips

  • It’s a wonderful idea if you never use any oil in your cooking, try grill, steam or baked different foods. Try this idea at least once, if like it tell others and let’s make this world a better place to live & enjoy.
  • I know cutting sugar is an uphill task initially, so some needs to be done when cutting the sugar intake as ‘longest journeys begin with a single step.’ You can try some sugar free sweeteners that are available in the market, but keep their number getting gradually less.
  • Tea and coffee without sugar also tastes the same. When you quit sugar, you can take care of your blood sugar levels in a perfect manner and help manage your weight too. If your dietary treatment requires these sweeteners to maintain your hypos, have a discussion with your doctor before leaving these sweeteners.

Quit Boozing:

  • Alcohol has lots of calories and is too dangerous if you already have diabetes quit all the things that have a tinge of alcohol in them. If you are habitual and find difficulty in giving up, try leaving it with getting actively involved in doing something else, play a game or get involved in any activity you love, just remain busy.
  • I know initially you might get tense, but give a break into your company of old friends, the binge drinkers, but think positive and a strong will power will give you lots of benefits in the long run, you will have more fun and your economic blues will also wither away and you can have lots of fun, thus making your family have more fun with you.
  • Alcohol can make hypos to happen regularly. So better say no when anybody asks you to give him/her company, which should be heard by everybody around you, in a loud & clear way.
  • You ought to follow the above mentioned natural and organic foods (fruits & veggies) to prevent, if already exist, then ways on how to control it in a natural way. But it will be much better if you take the advice of your doctor before proceeding.

Ayurvedic Herbs to Manage Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetes Herbal RemediesIn this shloka the symptoms of madhumeh are

  • One who passes the urine which is astringent by nature , sweet, pale and rough should be diagnosed as a case of madhumeh which because of the vitiation of vata dosha.

(Reference: Charak Samhita (Nidan Sthan): Chapter- 4 and Shloka-44)

As per Ayurveda Aspect:

  • Diabetes is correlated with madhumeh or prameh. It is described by Acharya charak in charak Samhita Nidan sthan. Prameh is a tridoshaj disease but initially, it starts with the derangement of Kapha Dosha. Excessive intake of kapha prakopak ahara vihara can lead to the vitiation of Kapha Dosha. Symptoms related to prameha are krisha (asthenic), Rauksha (dryness in the skin), Bahu pipasa (Excessive thirst), sthula (obese) and bahuasi (Excessive hunger).

diabetes treatment in ayurveda

Aetiological classification of diabetes (prameha):

  • One type is Sahaja meha which is hereditary and another one is apathyanimitajja which is acquired.

Types of prameha according to Acharya Charak:

Aphaja Prameha:

  • Udakameha, ikshubalika, sandrameha, Sandera prasadameha, shuklameha, shukrameha, siktameha, sitameha, shanairmeha and alalameha.

Pittaja prameha:

  • Kshurdrameha, kalameha, nilameha, lohitameha, manjishthameha and haridrameha.

Vataja prameha:

  • Vasameha, majjameha, hastimeha and madhumeha.

As per modern aspect:

  • Diabetes is a condition which impairs the ability of the body to process blood glucose and is a group of metabolic diseases marked by the high blood glucose level resulting from defects in insulin production. Lack of insulin production affects the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins which in turn causes disturbance of water and electrolyte homeostasis.
  • Having pre-diabetes can put you at a higher risk of getting type2 diabetes. Diabetes can damage your nerves, eyes, and kidneys and may also cause heart disease.

Type of Diabetes

What Are the types and Symptoms of diabetes?

Diabetes can be of three types:

  1. Type 1
  2. Type 2
  3. Gestational Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes:

  • This condition is also known as juvenile diabetes and can occur when the pancreas fails to produce insulin due to loss of beta cells. An individual with type 1 diabetes is mostly insulin dependent, which means the individual must take artificial insulin to stay alive. So, it is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).

Type 2 diabetes:

  • In this condition, the pancreas still produces insulin but fails to  resists the insulin properly, unlike in type 1 and it affects the way the body uses insulin. It has strong links with obesity and lack of exercise. This condition is also referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes:

  • This occurs in pregnant women during pregnancy when the body becomes less sensitive to insulin. It does not occur in all pregnant women but when occurs, then it usually resolves after giving birth.

In type 1 diabetes mellitus the symptoms may develop rapidly (weeks or even months)

Symptoms related to diabetes are:

  • Blurred vision
  • Excessive thirst and hunger
  • Frequent urination
  • Restlessness
  • Fatigue
  • Blurring of vision
  • Slow healing of wounds
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Skin infections
  • Tingling sensation in hands and feet
  • Darkening of skin complexion
  • Irritability
  • Excessive thirst and hunger
  • Weight loss
  • Pain in upper and lower limbs

Ayurvedic Herbs to Manage Blood Sugar Levels

Gurmaar (Gymnema sylvestrae):

  • In Hindi language, gurmaar is known as “The sugar killer” and  it has been used in Ayurveda since ages for controlling the blood sugar level  Extract of this herb plays an important role in reducing the craving for sugar.
  • Some researchers have shown that it contains molecules of gymnemic acid in the intestines and also inhibits its entry into the bloodstream.
  • It is the best and effective herb for the controlling of blood sugar levels that may contribute to insulin secretion and also cell regeneration that may contribute to blood sugar lowering capabilities.

Karela (Momordica Charantia):

  • Karela is also known as a bitter guard or bitter melon and is a unique vegetable-fruit that can be used as a medicine or food. This fruit has long been used as herbal remedy for a range of ailments, including type2 diabetes. It contains an active substance called charantin which has anti-diabetic properties  which can reduce the blood sugar levels. It also contains vicine and an insulin-like compound known as polypeptide and these substances work either individually or together that can help to reduce the blood sugar levels.

Vizaysaar (Pterocarpus marsupium):

  • The bark of vizaysaar is useful for diabetes. The bark of the tree is used to make a wooden glass and this glass is termed as “The miracle care for diabetes”. It increases the digestive fire and also increases the insulin production in the body.
  • Pour some water in the wooden glass and keep it for overnight and the water is consumed by the diabetic patients early in the morning on an empty stomach. The color of the water changes to brown and change this wooden glass after one month until the watercolor does not change.

Saptrangi (Salacia oblonga)

  • Saptrangi is a wonderful Ayurvedic herb used for diabetes. Its bark is very effective in controlling the diabetes. The main constituents of this herb are kotalanol and salicin which acts as glucose inhibitors. These inhibitors lower the risk of complications caused by diabetes mellitus.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

  • Ashwagandha is an effective herb which is especially used for diabetic neuropathy, fatigue, weakness and weight loss due to diabetes. This herb is adaptogenic which relieves stress and anxiety. Some researchers said that this herb is used to lower the blood sugar levels in the body by increasing the insulin secretion and improves the sensitivity of insulin in the muscle cells.
  • It can also reduce the cortisol levels because increased cortisol level may lead to high blood sugar levels in the body. Reduced cortisol levels help the body to deal with stressful situations and keep the sugar level under control.

Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

  • Tulsi is popularly known as the holy basil and is known to be a significant part of ayurvedic medicines. Its leaves, seeds, and stems are edible and are used in various Indian delicacies. Being an anti-inflammatory, it can prove to be a cure to several diseases.
  • Tulsi is said to improve the pancreatic beta cell function and insulin secretion that further increases the uptake of glucose by muscles. Leaves of Tulsi has hypoglycemic properties which lower the blood sugar level and prevents further complications related to diabetes.

Fenugreek (Trigonells foenum graecum):

  • Fenugreek can improve the metabolic symptoms associated with type 1 and type2 diabetes. It contains high soluble fibers which are helpful in lowering the blood sugar levels by slowing down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. Its seeds are the richest source of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, which help to protect the cells of the body from damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals.