Ayurvedic Management Of Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong disease in which the blood sugar levels rise higher than normal. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. It is usually seen in children, adolescents, and young adults, and affects men and women equally. It is commonly known as juvenile diabetes.

Diabetes is one of the 20 Pramehas (urinary diseases) classified by Ayurveda. In Ayurveda, type 1 diabetes is known as Sahaja or Jatah Prameha, and it is most common in children and thin people. According to Ayurveda, the primary cause of diabetes mellitus is an aggravated Kapha dosha, which occurs as a result of a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits. The disease is only manageable and not curable. Diabetes is one of the 20 Pramehas (urinary diseases) classified by Ayurveda. These are classified based on the imbalance of the individual's predominant doshas and the physical appearance of the urine.

Type 1 diabetes develops when your immune system attacks and destroys the pancreas' insulin-producing beta cells. It is also caused by genes and environmental factors such as viruses, which may cause the disease to manifest. The condition can be naturally managed by controlling blood glucose levels with a combination of insulin therapy, diet, and exercise. Type 1 diabetes is difficult to manage due to a lack of diabetes controlling hormone production by the pancreas. As a result, Ayurveda aims to manage Type 1 Diabetes through panchakarma, diet, and exercise.

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Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes signs and symptoms include:

• Increased thirst.
• Frequent urination.
• Unusual Bed-wetting in children. .
• Increased hunger.
• Unintended weight loss.
• Irritability and other mood changes.
• Fatigue and weakness.
• Blurred vision.
• Slow healing of wounds.

Causes Of Type 1 Diabetes

The exact causes of Type 1 Diabetes are unknown, but some factors that lead to Type 1 Diabetes are:

• The body’s immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. .
• Genetics.
• Exposure to viruses and other environmental factors.
• Family history.

Ayurvedic Treatment For Type 1 Diabetes

Panchakarma Therapy is beneficial in the Ayurvedic treatment of Type 1 diabetes. It helps to find out the root cause, cleaning the toxins, and helps in the proper functioning of the organs like the pancreas, thus correcting the insulin production and absorption in the body. The panchakarma treatments for controlling Type 1 diabetes are:

• Abhyanga

  Patients having diabetes involve a certain amount of stress. It leads to an increase in blood sugar levels. Abhyanga is useful in relieving stress, even for pre-diabetic. It helps in relaxing the muscles and helps to improve circulation. Thus it causes increased glucose absorption and the amount of insulin required for impaired glucose levels also decreased.

• Swedana therapy

  It helps to open the pores, flushes, and cleanses the system through the skin and the toxins are excreted through sweat.

• Basti

  Basti karma concentrates on the elimination of toxins of the body through the rectum. The treatment involves the introduction of Medicinal substances, such as medicated oil and decoctions in a liquid medium into the anal region of the patient. .

• Virechana

  Virechana is a medicated purgation therapy that removes toxins from the body that are accumulated in the liver and gallbladder. Doshas are removed in the form of feces through the rectum. It completely cleanses the gastrointestinal tract.

The Panchakarma treatment to control type 1 diabetes is Abhyanga, Swedana therapy, Basti and Virechana.

Diet Recommendations (Aahar) For Type 1 Diabetes

Following Diet, Recommendations help to control Type 1 Diabetes.

• Include the use of barley in the diet because it is considered the main food for healing diabetes.
• Turmeric and cinnamon combination is beneficial in the early stages of diabetes.
• Consume herbs like Gokshura, Gudmar, triphalá, musta, cardamom, fenugreek, or coriander, mixed with honey.
• Include other cereals such as wheat, Kodo millet, and rice, which crops within 60 days in your diet.
• Pulses such as Adhaki, horse gram, and green gram along with bitter and astringent leafy vegetables may be taken.
• Include vegetables such as green banana, Chaulee, dwarf copperleaf, fenugreek leaves, and bitter gourd.
• Include fruits such as orange, watermelon, apple, jambu, Kapitha, and amla.
• In foods, oils such as soybean oil, groundnut oil, and mustard oil may be beneficial.
• Having karela juice or white pumpkin 20-30 ml on an empty stomach may be beneficial.
• Regularly have methi seeds soaked overnight in water.
• Avoid sugar, sugar products, rice, potato, ghee, butter, fat, regular oil, fermented food items, alcohol, urad (black gram), rajma (kidney beans), and other heavy items.

Lifestyle Changes (Vihar)

Following lifestyle changes helps to overcome the symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

• Start exercising regularly. Walking, swimming, running or Yoga Asanas are highly beneficial.
• Have regular oil massages.
• Take regular steam.
• Taking a warm shallow bath to cleanse the genital area also helps to control diabetes.
• Include breathing exercises or pranayama in your daily routine.
• Practice Yoga poses like Tadasana, Salabhasana, Dhanurasana and Paschimottanasana.

How To Prevent Type 1 Diabetes

Preventive measures for Type 1 Diabetes are:

• Regular monitoring of blood glucose level and medical checkup.
• Do exercise at least 30-60 minutes daily. .
• Restrict the intake of sweets.
• Drinking water before eating. It improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood sugar spikes in pre-diabetics.
• Avoid tobacco and liquor consumption.
• Increase the use of barley, wheat, mudga, and roasted chana in the diet.
• Garlic helps to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
• Limit the use of potatoes, rice, milk, oily foods, and milk products.
• Eating nuts regularly can lower the rates of heart diseases caused by diabetes.
• Cinnamon aids in lowering blood sugar levels and lowering the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Ayurvedic Herbs For Type 1 Diabetes

The herbal remedies that are effective to control type 1 diabetes are:

• Amla

  Amla or the Indian gooseberry is the best Ayurveda herb to control type 1 diabetes. It is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants; this makes it perfect for treating and keeping diabetes under control. Amla contains a mineral called chromium that enables proper carbohydrate metabolism. It allows your body to respond to insulin, which keeps the blood sugar under control. Other minerals that are present in Amla are calcium, phosphorus, and iron, they help the body absorb insulin and regulate blood sugar levels.

• Triphala

  It is used as an Ayurvedic booster for digestion that improves digestion, cleanses the bowels, improves metabolism, and boosts the energy of the person. It is the best Ayurvedic medicine for sugar. The presence of antioxidants helps to reduce the oxidative stress of the body.

• Cinnamon

  It is another Ayurvedic herb to control diabetes. It also helps to decrease blood pressure and fight diabetes. .

• Tulsi

  Tulsi has numerous anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful in the treatment of diabetes-related ailments such as obesity. Tulsi consumption may improve pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin secretion.

• Ashwagandha

  Ashwagandha helps in increasing insulin secretion and improves insulin sensitivity in muscle cells. So it is extremely beneficial for diabetics.

• Bitter gourd

  Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) is effective in controlling diabetes. It contains many nutrients that can be beneficial to your health. It also helps to lower blood sugar. Drink one glass of Bitter Gourd juice daily to keep your blood sugar levels in order all through the day.

• Saptrangi

  It regulates Kapha dosha due to its astringent, healing, and dry nature which is the primary cause of diabetes. It also has a good effect on the functioning of the liver and pancreas.

• Gurmar

  It is also known as a sugar killer herb. It helps in the regeneration of insulin and producing Beta Cells. It contains Gymnemic Acid molecules, which have antidiabetic actions. They mix with glucose molecules in the intestine and inhibit their entry into the bloodstream. Thus it acts as a perfect herb for sugar control.

• Vijaysar

  Due to its astringent taste and light and drying nature it is very effective for controlling type1 diabetes. It balances Kapha and regulates glucose levels and balances metabolism in the body. .

• Haridra

  Haridra or turmeric has Katu, Tikta, Ushna properties. Haridra balances Kapha which is the primary dosha involved in diabetes. The antiseptic properties of Haridra make it useful in treating infections in diabetic patients.

• Fenugreek

  It is the best Ayurvedic herb to fight against type 1 diabetes. It is considered as Kapha Shamak in Ayurveda due to its Tikta ras and Ushna Virya. .

The powerful herbal remedies to control type 1 diabetes are amla, Triphala, cinnamon, ashwagandha, tulsi, Saptrangi, bitter gourd, Gurmar, Vijaysaar, turmeric, and fenugreek.

Conclusion

All the information related to Type 1 Diabetes is based on various Ayurvedic resources. Always prefer the advice of an Ayurvedic doctor before using herbs and herbal medicines to treat diabetes.