Confused on what helps in Treatment of Diabetes and what not?

It has been proven in several studies that Diabetes can be controlled using a dietary and lifestyle control. Several herbs have shown to be highly effective in controlling blood sugar levels and reducing problems associated with Diabetes. These herbs sometimes may act as a monotherapy, and most of the times they can be taken in addition to other anti-diabetic drugs.

The only treatment option available for Type-I diabetes is Insulin. Whereas, available diabetes medication does provide temporary relief, but not without its side effects. Low blood sugar as a side effect of oral diabetes medications usually causes mild symptoms, such as sweating, shakiness, and hunger. Other long term effects include Weight gain, Retinopathy.

Some Good Herbal Preparations like MadhuRakshak can help as an adjuvant in Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin-Dependant), and can be effectively taken either as a monotherapy for Type 2 Diabetes or as an adjuvant to other oral anti diabetic drugs. There are several researches which show good results for the ingredient herbs.

Other herbal preparations like BioSlim can help you safely reduce weight and control blood cholestrol levels, since weight gain is a common problem usually seen in Type-II Diabetes.

Several Herbs can be taken Individually or in combinations for different effects like Gymnema may effectively help you reduce cravings for sugar, in adults.

Diabetes - Symptoms and Causes

Among common symptoms, in Type I diabetes, there is excessive thirst, hunger, urination and dehydration, often accompanied by weight loss.

In Type II diabetes, which usually occurs during middle age, the symptoms are the same except that may be weight gain.

There may be serious Long term effects of diabetes including Delayed healing of wounds, Eyes problems, kidney or heart problems, alongwith nervous or mental disorders, in acute cases.

The primary cause of type 1 diabetes, which happens mostly in juveniles, is that body does not produce insulin at all. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar (glucose), starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

However, In type 2 diabetes, in which the pancreas produces insulin, but it is insufficient for reducing the blood glucose to normal levels. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can several problems

It may make your body cells starve for energy. You may feel sudden fatigue, headache and other such symptoms.

And over longer periods of time, high blood glucose levels may create disorders of eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.

Home Remedies and Dietary Recommendations that are effective in Diabetes

• Gymnema may stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin in people with type 2 diabetes. Gymnema also improves the ability of insulin to lower blood sugar in people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It has been proven in two different studies, Its daily use may reduce or eliminate the need for diabetes medications in type-2 diabetes. For type-1 diabetes, it can lead to lesser daily requirement of insulin.
• Fenugreek The seeds of fenugreek have been found effective in the treatment of diabetes. Fenugreek seeds, when given in varying doses of 25 grn to 100 gm daily, diminish reactive hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. Levels of glucose, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides were also significantly reduced in the diabetes patients when the seeds were consumed.
• Bitter Gourd Among the several home remedies that have proved beneficial in controlling diabetes, perhaps the most important is the use of bitter gourd. Bitter gourd contains a hypoglycaemic called ‘plantinsulin’ which helps in lowering the blood sugar levels.It can be taken in form of cooked vegetable. Or 4-5 tblspns of the extracted juice can be taken with with equivalent amount of water in morning. You may also use bitter gourd in the form of a decoction by boiling the pieces in water or in the form of dry powder.
• Indian Gooseberry (Amla), with its high vitamin C content, is considered beneficial in diabetes. Vitamin C may reduce glycosylation and also lowers sorbitol in people with diabetes. Sorbitol is a sugar that can accumulate and damage the eyes, nerves, and kidneys of people with diabetes.A tablespoon of its juice, mixed with a cup of bitter gourd juice, taken daily for two months, is considered to stimulate the Islets of Langerhans, that is, the isolated group of cells that secrete the hormone insulin in the pancreas.
• Jambul Fruit Jambul fruit is regarded in traditional Indian medicine as a specific against diabetes because of its effect on the pancreas. The seeds contain a glucoside ‘jamboline’ which helps in reducing the conversion of starch into sugar in cases of increased production of glucose. The seeds should be dried and powdered. One teaspoon of this powder should be mixed in one cup of milk or water and taken twice daily.
• Madhurakshak is a combination of all of these herbs and several more - Indian Gooseberry powder, Jambul seeds powder, and bitter gourd powder also makes a very useful remedy for diabetes. A teaspoon of this mixture once or twice a day would be effective in checking the progress of the disease.

Tips on eating right

• Eat at about the same time every day. This helps keep your insulin or medicine and sugar levels steady.
• Try to eat 3 times a day. Have a snack at bedtime if you’re taking medicine or insulin. Avoid other snacking unless you’re exercising or treating hypoglycemia.
• If you’re overweight, lose weight. Even losing just a little weight, such as 5 to 15 pounds, can lower your blood sugar levels.
• Eat plenty of fiber. Green leafy vegetables, grains and fruits are good choices. Fiber helps you feel full.
• Eat fewer “empty” calories, such as foods high in sugar and fat, and alcohol.

(src: www.familydoctor.org/049.xml on Diabetes)

Recommended Life Style Changes

• Mild Exercise helps decrease body fat and improves insulin sensitivity. People with type 1 diabetes who exercise require less insulin. But, heavy or stringent exercise can induce low blood sugar or even occasionally increased blood sugar. So care must be taken before starting heavy excercise.
• Drinking should be avoided or reduced to minimal if you have diabetes. Alcohol has been reported to worsen glucose tolerance in people with diabetes in some studies. If you have diabetes, and you drink you are at a high risk for eye and nerve damage.
• Similarly, You should avoid smoking completely. It has been shown in several studies that smoking with diabetes put you at higher risk for kidney damage, heart disease, and other diabetes-linked problems.

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1. This is an amazing blog. I Love the section on tips for eating right. My aunt has had diabetes for about 5 years and I’m trying to convince her to go the natural route. thanks for the great blog.

   Comment by Natural Remedies for Diabetes Mom — May 15, 2008 #

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