Diabetes and Ayurveda

Ayurveda considers Diabetes as a serious health problem that requires lifelong care and restrictions. Along with medication, or sometimes even more importantly than medication, Ayurveda prescribes a change of diet and lifestyle for the effective control of diabetes. Ayurveda believes that even a small change in lifestyle can have tremendous effect on the health.

Changes in lifestyle including dietary changes and exercises have an important role to play in dealing with diabetes. It is important that the individual has a balanced diet which includes wheat. Wheat has a special capability to catalyze the process of healing injuries on the body and subsequently, it is desirable that wheat be included in the diet. Moreover, food items like cucumber and tomatoes can create a feeling that the stomach is full, subsequently helping in reducing the excessive intake of food. Sprouts, spinach, beans, grams, lemon, and plantain products can be of help if included in the diet. Alcohol, sugarcane juice, jaggery and sugar must be avoided to maintain health.

Exercise can be of help in catalyzing the insulin functions and better burning down of fats. Care must be taken in choosing the exercise and must be done in consultation with the doctor.  Practicing Suryanamaskara, Parshwatrikonasanam, ParshwaudhasanamandArdhamathsyendrasanamcan also help in dealing with diabetes. A system that involves medications along with strict diet and exercise and controls mental stress is necessary for dealing with diabetes.

Skin abscesses or diabetes boils is a major problem faced by diabetic patients and these usually appear on the shoulders and back. Diabetes boils on the face, buttocks, shoulders, anus, head and joints are extremely painful and hard to heal. There are almost 10 kinds of diabetes boils according to Ayurveda which includes Saravika, Kacchipika, Jalini, Srashapika, Masoorika etc.

The symptoms of diabetes includes blackening of skin, pain, hardening of the skin, rashes, fever, burning sensations in the stomach and slow healing wounds are the usual symptoms of diabetes.

Ayurveda medication for diabetes includes turmeric, gooseberry, Thettambal and Nalpamaramare effective in controlling diabetes and preventing diabetic boils. Medicines prepared with the aforementioned components like Dwinishadi, Darveekhadiradi, Katakaghadhiradi, KsheeradhrumadriandDharvyadi are administered according to the rate of the disease.

Turmeric catalyzes the healing process and has antibacterial properties. Consuming 5gms or turmeric paste with butter can control diabetes and reduce the effect of diabetes boils. Gooseberries can create a balance between the nutrients and minerals in the body, thus smoothening the body functions. Crush the gooseberry to extract the gooseberry juice and consume two spoons of this. It can be an effective medication for Diabetes. Turmeric powder mixed with gooseberry extract can reduce cell death caused by diabetes.Thaetambal has medicinal properties capable of healing wounds and boils. Mixing the paste of 10 grams of Thaetambal with buttermilk is an effective treatment for diabetes.Washing slow healing wounds and diabetic boils in concoction made with Nalpamaramand consuming the concoction can help in dealing diabetes.