Fighting Diabetes
We have often heard a family member refer to diabetes and wondered what it was. Diabetes is a disease that develops when the amount of glucose, or more simply blood sugar, rise due to the lack of insulin in our body.
Regulating the sugar level of the blood is most essential to keep diabetes in control. Diabetes can lead to gaining of deadly diseases which may prove to be calamitous if diabetes is not controlled in time as the disease has some short-term effects like an eye-vision which is blurred, loss of weight, concentration loss, frequent urination etc. some of the effects which diabetes can bring forward if it is not controlled in time are kidney failure, heart diseases, eye diseases etc.
The treatment of Diabetes depends on the age of the person, the lifestyle of the person and the stage of disease. Initially, the treatment of Diabetes involves giving a healthy and nutritious diet, and regular exercising. The weight of the diabetic should be under control to minimize the disease. If the above said measures of control are not effective, than Oral medications and Insulin are preferred.
In America alone, more than fifteen (15) million people suffer from diabetes and require daily insulin shots. Lowering cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels are imperative to help control this disease. Smoking significantly increases the risk of heart disease in diabetic patients, so they are strongly urged to quit, reducing the risk of higher cholesterol levels and heart disease.
There are certain herbs and medicines for Diabetes prescribed in ayurveda like gymnema, bitter melon, bilberry, birch leaf tea, diaplex etc. Gymnema reduces blood sugar levels by lowering insulin resistance, and by increasing the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. Gymnema improves glucose control and helps the body make more insulin. Bitter melon is a fruit that helps increase the number of beta cells in the pancreas, thereby improving the body's ability to produce insulin. Bilberry contains tannins and compounds called OPCs which are good for the eyesight and the blood vessels. Birch leaf tea helps in reducing weight, thereby helping control Diabetes.
Two of the major drugs which are given to diabetics are Insulin and Oral Hypoglycemics. Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Fatty Acids, Alpha Lipoic acid, Chromium, Vanadium, Zinc are necessary nutrients for a diabetic and hence should be given to a diabetic in each of his meals. One of the most important elements helping in prevention of side-effects of diabetes like eye diseases, kidney problems, is vitamin A. this is the most helpful elements of all in the process of controlling diabetes. More insulin is produced with the help of Vitamin D and Zinc. Moving the insulin to the cells is the process of vanadium. Metabolism of carbohydrates is the function of chromium. Energy is arrived from glucose in the body with the help of Alpha Lipoic acid. Cod liver oil, nutritional yeast, animal foods including raw butter, cream, cheese, raw meat and fish, beef and lamb, seafood like shellfish, unrefined salt for trace minerals, bone broths for minerals; unfiltered olive oil; molasses, egg yolks; and a variety of fresh and fermented vegetables are the minerals and vitamins included in a healthy diet.
HemoglobinA1C test is the test which measures the sugar level in blood and its results should vary in between 7 % or below. Near about to 50,000 diabetics undergo treatment at New York City public hospitals. According to them, diabetes cannot be controlled alone with blood sugar control. A regular track of blood pressure and cholesterol levels and eye and foot exams are checked there at regular intervals using an electronic patient registry. Protein HaemoglobinA1C levels should be reduced or the blood sugar level must be reduced until the factors like age, other chronic conditions, lifestyle and culture are not controlled for the purpose of treating a patient.