Diabetes: Information in Indian System of Medicine

AYURVEDA

Definition

Ayurvedic Name: Madhumeha
Diabetes (Madhumeha) is a metabolic syndrome that interferes with the body’s ability to process carbohydrates and sugar into fuel. It is characterized by high blood glucose levels.

Causes
Hereditary proneness (Beeja Dosha)
• Excessive intake of freshly harvested food articles
• Sleeping for long time specially during day time
• Environmental toxins, autoimmune disorders
• Intake of freshly prepared alcoholic drinks
• Excessive intake of sweet/starch
• Indulging in extra luxuries, laziness
• Sedentary occupation
• Lack of exercise
• All Kapha aggravating factors
• Manas Hetu : Strain, stress, worries, grief, anger, anxiety, fear, depression

Preventive Measures

Don’ts (Apathyas) – Excess use of following should be avoided:
• Alcohol, milk, oil, ghee, flour, syrups, curd
• Amla, madhura, lavana rasa pradhana dravyas
• Naveena Anna (Freshly harvested grains)
• Ikshu rasa (Sugarcane juice)
• Guda (Jaggery)
• Meat of animal which are living in water
• Sedentary life style
• Divaswapan (Day sleep)
• Supression of urine
• Overeating
• Riding & walking for long time (Exertion)

Health Promoting Tips

Do’s (Pathyas)
Diet to be promoted:
• Take low fat diet
• Barley wheat
• Fruit and leaf of patola, shigru, karavellaka

Lifestyle to be adopted:
• Morning walk
• light exercise
• Yoga - Shavasan, Pranayam
• Meditation

Curative Herbs
• Methi (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)
• Bimbi (Coccinia indica Wight. & Arn.)
• Gudamar (Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Schult.)
• Jambu (Syzygium cumini L.)
• Karavellaka (Momordica charantia L.)
• Udumbara (Ficus glomerata Roxb.)
• Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thoms. )
• Triphala (Myrobalans)

 

HOMOEOPATHY

Definition

Diabetes is a chronic disease, which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. This leads to an increased concentration of glucose in the blood (hyperglycemia).
Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin – dependent or childhood onset diabetes) is characterized by a lack of insulin production.
Type 2 diabetes (previously known as non - insulin dependent or adult onset diabetes) is caused by the body’s ineffective use of insulin.
Gestational diabetes is hyperglycemia that is first recognized during pregnancy.

Causes

• Primary Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 or Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM))
- Juvenile onset.
- Associated with autoimmune disorders
- Resulting in destruction of pancreatic islet cells by anti – islet cell antibodies.
- Association with HLA-DR3 and HLA- DR4 (Human Leucocytic antigen)
• Type 2 or Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM):
- Exact cause is not known.
- Predisposing causes like obesity, sedentary life style
- Familial predisposition
- Ageing i.e. Maturity onset diabetes of young (MODY)
- High calorie diet
- Pregnancy
- Physical and mental stress
• Associated with endocrine disorders, Acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, Thyrotoxicosis, Phaeochromocytoma, Chronic pancreatitis etc.
• Haemochormatosis
• Pancreatic destruction due to excessive iron accumulation.
• Iatrogenic - Steroids, Contraceptive pills, Thiazide diuretics etc.

Preventive Measures

• Sugar levels to be checked every six months, or as advised by the consulting physician.
• Avoid fried, sweets and fast foods.
• Avoid mental stress. It is a known aggravating factor for diabetes.
• Rather than taking 3 large meals, try eating small meals frequently.
• Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes. (If you are a heart patient, you must ask your doctor for the exercises you should or you should not).

Health Promoting Tips

• Relaxation techniques to avoid undue stress.
• Regular exercise regimen and balanced diet which is low in carbohydrates and contain vitamins and minerals
• Routine medical check ups to avoid complications

UNANI

Definition
Ziabetus (diabetes) is a condition characterized by “Abnormal increase appetite and collapse of sexual function in association with Atash-e-Mufrit (polydypsia), Kasrat-e- Baul (polyuria) and weakness in body.

Causes

• Soo-e-Mizaj (deranged temperament) of certain organs. This may be Soo-e-Mizaj Saadah or Maaddi due to this Soo-e-Mizaj (deranged temperament), functions of certain organs like Kabid (Liver), Me’da (stomach), Masaareeqa (Mesenteries), Baanqaraas (Pancreas) and Kuliyah (Kidney) are affected.
• Soo-e-Mizaj-e-Kuliya.
• Soo-e-Mizaj-e-Kabid.
• Excessive use of alcohol.
• Infaalat-e Nafsania (psychological functions) e.g. stress, worries & emotion.
• Negative emotions and fear.

Preventive Measures

• Follow measures of Asbab-e-Sitta Zarooriya (six essentials factors) of healthy  lifestyle should be practiced accordingly.
• Maintain regular aerobic exercise for required period.
• Should follow diabetic diet chart for specific calories.
• Quit smoking as it increases the risk.
• Avoid consumption of alcohol.
• Avoid stress and strain.
• Avoid sedentary lifestyle.

Health Promoting Tips

• Take meals at short intervals instead of three large meals a day.
• Perform vigorous exercise once a week.
• Avoid stress and fear.
• Sleep 7-8 hours at night.
• Special attention should be given to the hygiene of feet.
• Maintain your weight according to age, sex and height.
• Lifestyle modifications and health education can minimize the risk of diabetes.

Curative Herbs

• Kernel of Jamun Jambolan plum (Syzygium cuminii Linn.)
• Kernel of Binola Levant cotton (Gossypium herbaceum Linn.)
• Falsa Phalsa (Grewia asiatica Linn.)
• Bark of Karela Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia Linn.)
• Tender shoot of Neem Margo (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)
• Leaves of Belgiri Bengal quince (Aegle marmelos Correa ex Roxb.
• Hulba Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum)
• Kalonji Black cumin (Nigella sativa Linn.)

SIDDHA

Definition
Neerizhivu (Diabetes mellitus) is defined as disease of metabolism (metabolic disorder), in which sugar is present in large amount in the blood and is excreted often in the urine. Due to derangement of Pitham Bio combustion is challenged leading to Neerizhuvu. Types of diabetes are as follows:
1) Insulin dependent (IDDM)
2) Non dependant (NIDDM)
3) Gestational
Causes
• Obesity
• Sedentary life style
• Genetic factor
• Over eating
• Intake of heavy sweets and carbohydrates
• Lack of exercise
• Day time sleep
• Mental stress
• Lack of seriousness
• Repeated infections

Preventive Measures

Do’s
• Siddha advocates specific dietary and life style changes for Neerizhvu (Diabetes
mellitus).
• Diet must be moderate with regular intervals.
• Fiber rich food is advised and hence lot of vegetables such as brinjal, cu-cumber,
lady’s finger, green tomatoes, plantain flower, drumsticks, cabbage, spinach and
green leafy vegetables can be taken.
• Milk products can also be taken in moderation to maintain the normal health of the
affected.
• When there is diarrhea, athippinju (tender fruit of Ficus racemosa), mam-paruppu
(seed of Mangifera indica) and sundaikkai (Solanum torvum) to be given.

Don’t’s & Avoid

• Over eating
• Sweet, cold, unctuous food, milk products etc.
• Fried food.
• Preserved and canned food.
• Alcohol should be avoided.
• Yoga should be practiced (Yoga mudra,Vakrasanam,Patchi mothan asanam)

Curative Herbs

• Avarai (Cassia curiculata)
• Konraiver (Root of Cassia fistula)
• Naval (Syzygium cuminni)
• Kadal azhhlinjal (Salacia oblonga)
• Sirukurinjan (Gymnema sylvestre)
• Maruthampattai (Bark of Terminalia arjuna)
• Kadukkai (Terminalia chebula)
• Vilaver (Root of Aegle marmalos)
• Seenthil (Tinospora cordifolia)
• Santhanum (Santalum album)
• Thamarai mottu (Bud of Nelumbo nu-cifera)
• Korai kizhangu (Cyperes rotundus)