Ayurveda Can Help Manage Your Diabetes: Here’s How

Ayurveda Remedies for Diabetes: Here’s how you can control your diabetes using Ayurvedic principles.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

There is a very high chance that you would know a person around you who is diabetic. In today’s world, diabetes has become so common a phenomenon that people have stopped looking at it as a disease.

And diabetes does not affect the blood sugar levels alone. If not managed properly, it can lead to obesity, kidney failure and stroke.

In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the carbohydrates one eats into blood glucose (also called blood sugar), which it uses for energy.

On the other hand, in type 2 diabetes the body does not use insulin properly. This phenomenon is called insulin resistance. At first, the pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, over time, the pancreas don’t make enough insulin to keep the blood glucose at a normal level.

Ayurveda And Diabetes

As per Ayurvedia, diabetes which is known as Madhumeha, is regarded as a major disease or Maha Rog and it is a metabolic disorder and cannot be treated only by controlling the blood sugar levels.

The Ayurvedic treatment of diabetes includes correcting the blood sugar levels by also ensuring that there are no complications later.

Ayurveda believes that diabetes can be controlled by changing diet (aahaar) and lifestyle (vihaar). These changes are made according to the body constitution or prakriti of a person.

Ayurvedic Remedies To Control Diabetes

Here are some Ayurvedic ways to combat diabetes:

Avoid Carbohydrate-Rich Foods

Avoid carbohydrate rich foods if you have diabetes.(Photo: iStockphoto)

Ayurveda recommends intake of foods with low glycaemic index. Glycaemic index (GI) is a relative ranking of carbohydrate in foods according to how they affect blood glucose levels.

Speaking to FIT, Dr Mukesh Sharma of Jiva Ayurveda, said:

Foods rich in carbohydrates such as rice, potatoes are not recommended if you are trying to control your diabetes. 

Dr Mukesh Sharma

Avoid Eating Sweet Foods

Avoid sugar if you are diabetic.(Photo: iStockphoto)

This is certainly a thumb rule for patients trying to control diabetes. Avoid sweets, chocolates, candies,sugar and fruits that are too heavy or sweet. Fruits such as pineapples, grapes and mangoes should ideally be avoided. Eat small portions, if you must.

You should not take a lot of things with madhur ras like sugar or jaggery (gur) if you are diabetic. It can shoot up your blood sugar levels.

Dr Mukesh Sharma

Eat Bitter Foods

Ayurveda recommends foods like bitter gourd for fighting diabetes.(Photo: iStockphoto)

To control diabetes, Ayurveda highly recommends the consumption of bitter foods. Foods such as bitter gourd can help balance the insulin and glucose levels very well.

Eat foods that have a bitter, astringent or pungent taste. These include foods like jamun, amla, bitter gourd, giloy.

Dr Mukesh Sharma

Avoid Dairy Products

Dairy products like milk are not recommended for diabetes patients.(Photo: iStockphoto)

Dr Sharma suggest that diabetic patients must avoid dairy products like milk and ghee since they can affect the digestive system, and thereby affect the insulin levels.

Say No To A Sedentary Life

Start with basic exercise & stretching.(Photo: iStockphoto)

Diabetes patients must aim to stay physically active and avoid a sedentary life. Activities like walking and light aerobic exercises like jogging will help in controlling the blood sugar levels. Dr Sharma also adds:

If you want to control your diabetes, chew your food properly otherwise it will affect your stomach, liver and the overall digestion.

Dr Mukesh Sharma

Another thing that diabetes patients should keep in mind is to a get a good night’s sleep. It is best to get a six to eight hours sleep. Sleeping and waking up on time is very important.