DIABETES

Diabetes is a group of metabolic disease in which a person has high blood sugar. Diabetes is a degenerative metabolic disorder affecting the way our bodies used digested food for growth and energy.

History of diabetes:

The term diabetes is the shortened version of the full name diabetes mellitus. Diabetes -  is derived for Greek word ‘siphon’ which means pass through , mellitus - is derived for Latin word which means honey or sweet . This is because in diabetes excess sugar is found in blood as well as urine.Diabetes is first recorded in English in the year of 1425.Mr.Thomas added mellitus to the word diabetes in the year of 1675.The sweet taste has been noticed in urine by ancient Greeks, Chinese, Indians, Egyptians and Persians literature shows the evidence of this problem.Sushruta, Arataeus and Thomas wills were the early pioneers of the treatment of diabetes.At the time of 18^th and 19^th century Johan Peter Frank differentiated between the diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus.

In 1910 Sir Edward Albert sharper Schafer found the diabetes resulted from lack of insulin.Insula means islands it denotes insulin producing islets of langerhans in the pancreas.Diabetes has been recognized as a distinct medical condition for at least 3500 years. Globally as of a 2013 estimation around 382 million people have diabetes world-wide with type 2 diabetes.The stage before diabetes is called pre-diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance is a condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than the normal levels.People those who have pre- diabetes are at the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on their life.

Normal levels of glucose in the blood:

Fasting plasma glucose levels 120-130 mg/dl.

Postprandial plasma glucose levels 180-200 mg/dl.

(Plasma glucose levels after 2 hours of a normal meal)

If plasma glucose levels are more than normal levels it is called hyperglycaemia.

If plasma glucose levels are less than normal levels it is called hypoglycaemia.

Hypoglycaemia can be dangerous if neglected.

Causes of hypoglycaemia are over dose of insulin or anti diabetic medications, skipping or delaying meal, too much of exercise, illness, incorrect timing of insulin or tablets, excess alcohol intake.

Symptoms like excess hunger, sweating, shivering, palpitation, weakness, nervousness, tremors, giddiness, blurred vision, change in mental status. This symptoms may be followed by fainting if not treated this symptoms may differ from person to person and time to time.

If the symptom is mild taken any food or drink that is readily available .Take sugar or glucose if the symptom is very severe.

Pancreas:

Pancreas is an oblong flattened gland located deep in the abdomen .The pancreas is about 6 inches long and sits across the back of the abdomen behind the stomach .It is the largest mixocrine gland in the body that is it will do both exocrine and endocrine functions .pancreas contains special type cells producing  region called islets of langerhans.

It contains three types of cells like alpha, beta and delta. Alpha cells produce hormone called glucagon which converts the glycogen into glucose .This helps to increase the sugar level in the blood. Beta cells secrete hormone called insulin .which converts glucose into glycogen .This helps to maintain the normal blood sugar level in the body. Delta cells secrete hormone called somatostatin which helps to stop the excess production of insulin and glucagon.

There are three main types of diabetes

              .Type 1 diabetes

              Type 2 diabetes

                Gestational diabetes.

TYPE-1 DIABETES:

Type 1 diabetes is an auto immune disease that means the body’s immune systems mistakes its own cells for invading pathogens that need to be destroyed .In this type of diabetes where the pancreas produces very little insulin or no insulin at all. This type of diabetes is called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile diabetes .people under the age of twenty will suffer from this type of diabetes.

CAUSES:

•  Due to the problems of genetic cells  the functions of pancreas  will get affected and stop functioning
•  Viral infection in pancreas.
• Chronic pancreatitis (is a condition which causes inflammation of the pancreas).
• Pancreatectomy – surgical removal of pancreas.
• Pancreatic cancer.

SYMPTOMS:

•  Polyuria (Frequent urination)
• Polydipsia(increase thirst )
•  Polyphagia(increase hunger)
• Weight loss.
• Blurred vision
• irritability
• Dry tongue
• Dry skin.
• Itching private spots.
•  Burning pain in hands and feet.
•  Numbness in hands and feet.
• Giddiness.
• Non healing ulcers.
• Sunken eye balls.

These symptoms may develop rapidly in type 1 diabetes.

Frederick Banting discovered insulin in (1921-1922) for treating diabetes.

Insulin from cattle and pigs was used for many years to treat diabetes and saved millions of life.

The first genetically engineered synthetic human insulin was produced in 1978 by using E.coil bacteria to produce insulin.

Humalog is modified human insulin and it was approved by the food and drug administration in 1996.

There are three types of human insulin

• Regular insulin
• Ultra rapid action insulin.
• Ultra long activity insulin.

Insulin is very effective and helpful for treating type 1 diabetes .It must be managed with insulin injections only.

TYPE 2 DIABETES:

The pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cells do not properly use insulin (insulin resistance). This diabetes is called non insulin dependent diabetes.

CAUSES:

• Life style
• Over weight.
• Lack of exercise
• Un healthy diet
•  Age
• Gastro intestinal problem
• Thyroid problem
• Certain drugs.
• Hormonal imbalance
• Glucagonoma- is a condition in which the body produces too much of hormone glucagon.
• Cushing syndrome – a condition characterised by excess production of cortisol.
• Pancreatic cancer.

SYMPTOMS:

• Polyuria (Frequent urination)
• Polydipsia(increase thirst )
• Polyphagia(increase hunger)
• Weight loss.
• Blurred vision
• Irritability
• Dry tongue.
• Dry skin.
• Itching private spots.
• Burning pain in hands and feet.
•  Numbness in hands and feet.
• Giddiness.
• Non healing ulcers.
• Sunken eye balls.

These symptoms may develop slowly in type-2 diabetes.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES:

It occurs in women during pregnancy this will disappear after pasturation .This type of diabetes is due to inadequate secretion  of insulin or insulin resistance (body cells are not responding to the insulin) .Those women who have this type of diabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Nearly 4% of women develop gestational diabetes mostly during the 2 trimester of pregnancy.

COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES:

• The risk of long term complications will develop after many years (10-20 yrs).
• Damage to the blood vessels.
• Cardio vascular disease.
• Macro vascular disease like stroke.
• Peripheral vascular disease.
• Damaging eyes (retinopathy)
• Diabetic retinopathy damage to the blood vessels in the retina of the eyes can result in gradual vision loss and potentially blindness.
• Blindness
• Cataract
• Damage to the kidneys (diabetic nephropathy)
• Damage to the kidney is known as diabetic nephropathy can lead to scarring urine protein loss, chronic kidney disease.
• Kidney failure.
• Damage to the nerves (diabetic neuropathy)
• Damage to the nerves in the body is known as diabetic neuropathy. It is the most common complication of diabetes. The symptoms include numbness, tingling pain, altered pain sensation which can damage to the skin.
• Diabetes related foot problems :
• Diabetic foot ulcers may occur and can difficult to treat, painful muscle wasting and weakness.
• Boils, ulcers, carbuncles.
•  Fungal infections
•  Alternative diarrhoea.
• Obstinate constipation
• Diabetic dermadromes – skin rashes.
• Diabetic ketoacidosis:
• Nausea, regurgitation, abdominal pain, smell of acetone breath, deep breathing dehydration, decreased level of consciousness.
• Coma.

After diagnosing a diabetes one should take proper medicines for controlling and keeping the normal sugar levels in the blood. Proper diet and regular exercise will be needed to control blood sugar levels. There are lots of medications are available for treating diabetes.

NATURAL TREATMENT FOR DIABETES:

Certain vitamins and mineral supplement have proven to be very effective in controlling diabetes. Supplementation of chromium will decrease the glucose level in blood and increase the glucose tolerant factor.

Magnesium supplements will prevent the complications of diabetes such as retinopathy and heart diseases.

Supplementation of vitamin C will improve the immunity power and give strength to the body.

Supplementation of vitamin B₁₂ is necessary for avoiding diabetic neuropathy. Omega 3 fatty acids will lowers the   tri-glycerides, co-enzyme Q₁₀ stimulate the production of insulin.

 Zinc helps in production of RBC.

NATURAL FOOD STUFFS FOR DIABETES:

High dietary fibre food stuffs like greens especially moringa greens, fenugreek ,valarai, curry leaves, corrinader leaves, mint leaves, spanich,  celery, turmeric, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, cumin seeds, olive seeds, green tea, sprouted grams ,banana stem, banana flower.

Vegetables like beans, cluster beans, cucumber, onion, garlic, bitter gourd, ivy gourd, tomato, capsicum, black beans, and blue corn.

Fruits like jamun fruit, kiwi fruit, passion fruit, lemon, amla, papaya, black berries, blue berries, and tart cherries.

Nuts like walnuts, almond.

Pulses like peas, Bengal gram, horse gram, soya bean varieties.

Some herbs:

• Costus igneus
• Gymnema sylvestre
• Syzygium jambolanum
• Senna auriculata

These are the very effective herbs to treat diabetes.

REVERSIABLE DIET FOR DIABETES:

Nowadays type 2 diabetes is being a common disease. We should check our blood sugar level periodically after 35 years .Main causes of type 2   diabetes is lack of exercise, intake of high calorie food and being a over-weight .Type 2 diabetes is reversible one .For that you have to take low calories, fibre rich and nutritious diet .Following diet will help the type 2 diabetes patients get reversible.

You should fallow this diet for 10 to 14 days this diet will surely bring blood sugars normal and get reversed from type 2 diabetes.                                 

                          

DIET CHART

MORNING
6:00 AM	Chew 2 leaves of Costus igneus (Or) insulin plant with empty stomach.
6:30 AM	1 glass of lime juice adds with 2 ml of honey   prepare with hot water) or 1 cup of green tea or hibiscus tea (or) 100 ml of skimmed (without sugar).
8:00 AM	1 cup of oats porridge with one cup of boiled mixed vegetables .( beans ,cluster beans ,broad beans ,bitter gourd ,ivy gourd , spinach ,drumstick leaves ,ladies finger ,banana flower ,banana stem )4 pieces of walnuts(or)almonds.
11:00 AM	1 cup of tomato juice or 1 cup of orange juice (or) 1 cup of carrot juice (without sugar) (or) 1 cup of butter milk with 30 grams of germinated peas.
LUNCH
12:30 PM	small size chapattis - 2  with  1 cup of  vegetable salads( cucumber ,onion ,radish ,cabbage ,celery ) with guava fruit or kiwi fruit or apple  (50grams ).
4:00 PM	1 cup of tea (prepared with skimmed milk, without sugar) with 30 grams of boiled channa.
DINNER
7:30 PM	2 idly with coriander chutney  ( or ) garlic chutney  ( or) curry leaves chutney  ( or ) small onion chutney .( use only olive oil ) with one small piece of papaya (or) 4-5 numbers of  jamun fruits (or)30 grams of grapes(or)2 pieces of dates.
10:00 PM	100 ml of skimmed milk (without sugar).

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR DIABETES:

In homeopathic system number of medicines are available for treating diabetes .Homeopathy is a very excellent alternative remedy for treating diabetes, it can reverse the diabetes without any side effects. Some important homeopathic medicines can reverse the diabetes.

Acidum phosphoricum, gymnema sylvestra, arsenicumbromatum, Syzygium jambolanum, murexpurpurea, sanicula, helonias dioica, calcarea phosphoric, uranium nitricum and iodium.

Yogasanas for diabetes:

Yogasanas and pranayama are very good methods for controlling diabetes.

Yogasanas like dhanurasana, bhujangasana, paschimottanasana, sarvangasana, mayurasana, matsyasana, eka padasana and chakrasana.

These asanas will stimulate the beta cells in the pancreas and secrete more insulin and this will regulate the functions of pancreas and digestive system.

If these asanas are done regularly it will prevent diabetes.

Treatment plans include:

• Self-monitoring of blood glucose level
• Exercise and diet guidelines
• Oral medications and/or insulin
• Target HbA1c level should be as close to 7 percent as possible
• Regular checks

             Every three months: HbA1c, feet, and height, weight and blood pressure should be checked, along with a physical examination for complications of diabetes.

    At least once a year, patients should have a diabetes education review, an eye exam, a lipid profile (cholesterol - HDL, LDL; triglycerides), kidney tests (creatinine, urine protein, and microalbumin), a peripheral nerve test, and a treadmill test or ECG.

Prevention:

• Maintain normal body weight
• Do regular exercise like walking, cycling, swimming for 40 minutes per day.
• Do above said yogasanas daily
• Stress free life.Take low calories foods like fruits and vegetables
• Avoid junk foods
• Take more amount of fibre rich foods.