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What is Diabetes Mellitus ?

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches into energy needed for daily life.

Author: Drshikha Sharma Nutrihealth

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The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. The early symptoms of diabetes include, weakness and tiredness, weight loss, excessive urination, excessive hunger, and excessive thirst. Further there could be delayed healing of wounds, itching and fungal infections. If untreated the condition may affect the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and the arteries which in turn lead to various disorders. Uncontrolled diabetes may lead to medical emergency called diabetic keto-acidosis.

Major types of diabetes mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them.

Type 2 Diabetes
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Major group of diabetics belong to this category.

Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women.

Pre Diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type II diabetes. This group of people can actually reverse their chances of getting diabetes in future by appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes.

Diagnosis
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes. In the OGTT test, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.

What we can do if you have diabetes:

First of all do not panic as diabetes is controllable and one can lead a healthy life like a normal person following a few dietary changes and lifestyle modifications. While losing weight and increasing physical activity can help reduce the chance of getting diabetes and help to control it, some people try drastic diets, such as fasting (or not eating for a long period of time). But such kind of diets, research have shown, are effective only in a meager percentage of people in comparison to the majority of people in whom there is deterioration of the ability of their body to handle the glucose. So the first thing is to understand the type of food you should be choosing according to your prakriti (bio-energy) and according to the effect of a particular food on your blood glucose levels (called glycemic index). Our ayurvedic doctors guide you on this aspect. Secondly it is appropriate to include certain common herbs like karela seeds, jamun (seeds), gurmar, methi dana etc. in you daily meal plan. As such, after ascertaining your dominant bio-energy, and your eating pattern and history of the ailment, a weekly diet plan is prepared. If you are overweight then you are advised to lose it and monitor it more closely. Accordingly our doctors and nutritionists prepare the diet plan for you.

Our Yoga Therapist come to your aid

Getting diabetes at any stage puts a lot of stress due to the dietary restriction and continuous medication (or insulin shots) and knowing about the possible consequences of the disease.Our yoga therapist will help you to develop a positive attitude towards the ailment with regular exercise and pranayam, which help your body in a better control over the blood sugar.
Who said that having diabetes means - no to tasty food

Our in-house chefs make sure that you are taught to prepare amazingly tasty recipes which are good for your blood glucose control and is full of nutrients which make your experience with us of controlling you blood glucose, effortless and enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have high blood sugar. Is there a cure?
Although a permanent cure for diabetes has not been documented still but it can be very well controlled through your diet, achieving ideal body weight, changing your lifestyle and intake of safe and effective herbal therapy. Our program has been instrumental in controlling blood glucose of our clients just through diet, common time tested herbs and lifestyle modification only.

Can I stop my allopathic medicines once I am on your program?
Not at the start. However, once your blood sugar levels are within the normal range for a constant period, your physician may decide to stop them.

My doctor has already given me a diet, and exercise plan to follow along with the medicine.

How is your program different?
We select the food and herbs according to your individual bio-energy and suitability of food, so a general plan given by other institutions might not be as effective. The inclusion of yoga has got a regenerative effect on the body and help it to heal itself.

By what time can I expect to see results and how long I have to continue? How long will I have to be with you?

This will depend on your blood glucose levels and the response of your body to our treatment.

What herbs do I have to take?
Certain Ayurvedic herbs have been thoroughly researched with documented safety and have proved to be very useful in controlling diabetes as an adjunct to the allopathic medicine and even independently. Some of them are amla , gurmar, vijaysar, chirayta, jamun seeds etc. They are selected as per your bio-energy ascertained by our doctors.
I am on insulin. Will your program help?

Yes we are able to help people who need insulin to control their blood glucose in the same way as we do in people who were on oral hypoglycemic drugs. With our program the insulin requirement of your body is decreased and in type II diabetes it may not be required at all.

Will my blood glucose levels stay normal, even after completing your program?
Yes, in our program you are given enough education about the dietary changes and life style changes so that just by following those tips you can easily control your blood glucose levels in future on your own.

About Author

Dr. Shikha is presently on the Governing Body Young Indians (a body affiliated to CII) is an organization devoted to bringing young achievers on a common platform. The mandate for the young achievers is to give back to society by contributing time and intellectual skills to create progress in India. The areas of focus are Environment, Employability, Health, Youth affairs, and learning. Dr. Shikha is currently the National Co Chair Health.

She divides her time between the chain of clinics (under the name of Nutri Health Systems ), the Diet Helpline centre and other activities.

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What is Diabetes Mellitus ?