Significance Treatment of Ayurveda for Diabetes Problem
Diabetes is a condition that influences the body’s ability to process blood glucose, also known as blood sugar. Glucose is important to health as it is a source of energy for the cells that constitute your muscles and tissues. Glucose is also vital for your brain to function properly.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not generate enough insulin or when the body is unable to use insulin effectively. Insulin is a hormone that helps control sugar levels in the blood. Hyperglycaemia is a common complication of uncontrolled diabetes that leads to damage to the body’s systems, especially your blood vessels.
The different types of diabetes may include:
Type 1 diabetes. It is an autoimmune disease. Also known as juvenile diabetes, this type of diabetes occurs when the immune system starts to attack and destroy cells in the pancreas that produces insulin. The cause is not known though; around 10% of people with diabetes have this type of diabetes. People with this diabetes are insulin-dependent, so they need to take artificial insulin to stay alive.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, and too much sugar starts to retain in the bloodstream. This is the most common type of diabetes, and as per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), it is mostly linked to obesity.
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Prediabetes develops when your blood sugar is significantly higher than normal. But it is not high enough to cause you to type 2 diabetes. Doctors refer to some people as having prediabetes when blood sugar is in the range of 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter.
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the placenta produces insulin blocking hormones, which cause sugar to buildup in the blood.
A rare condition called diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes but has a similar name. It is a different condition in which the renal replaces too much fluid during the blood filtration process.
What are the different signs that can be witnessed during diabetes?
Men with advanced diabetes can have a decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and poor muscle strength. On the opposite, women with diabetes can have symptoms related to urinary tract infections, dry and itchy skin, yeast infections, etc.
Type 1 diabetes
General symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include:
- extreme hunger
- increased thirst
- unintentional weight loss
- frequent urination
- blurry vision
- tiredness
- mood changes
Type 2 diabetes
General symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:
- increased hunger
- increased thirst
- increased urination
- blurry vision
- tiredness
- injuries that are slow to heal
- recurring infections
Too much blood sugar makes it hard for the body to heal naturally. So, it is important to get into Ayurvedic medicines for diabetes.
Gestational diabetes
Women with gestational diabetes do not have any signs. The condition is often diagnosed during a routine check-up or blood test done between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation. Some women also feel increased thirst or urination during gestational diabetes.
The bottom line
It is hard to spot signs of diabetes at first. Learning about the signs will help to diagnose the condition a bit early. Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice signs of diabetes.
Causes of diabetes
Different causes are associated with each type of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes
Doctors do not know what causes a person type 1 diabetes. The immune system is held responsible for fighting against bacteria that start to destroy insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The body becomes a deficit of insulin, and that is how sugar builds up in the bloodstream. Genes play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes in some people.
Type 2 diabetes
For type 2 diabetes, genetic and environmental factors play a crucial role in the development. Being overweight is also linked to the development of type 2 diabetes but the reverse may not be true. Type 2 diabetes runs in the family lines. As members share genes, this makes them more prone to have diabetes and to be overweight.
Prediabetes
In prediabetes, the cells become resistant to insulin. At this time, the pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to overcome resistance. The sugar builds up in the bloodstream instead of moving into the cells for use as energy.
Gestational diabetes
This form of diabetes occurs due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy. The placenta produces hormones that make a pregnant woman’s cell less responsive to the effects of insulin. This can cause high blood sugar during pregnancy. Women who are already obese at the time of pregnancy or gain too much weight during their pregnancy are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
Risk factors for diabetes
- genes
- obesity
- age 45 or older
- a parent or sibling with the condition
- physically inactive
- high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides
- had gestational diabetes during a past pregnancy
- have given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- a family history of type 2 diabetes
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Family, lifestyle, environment, and medical conditions can all affect your odds of developing diabetes.
Diabetes complications
High blood pressure damages organs and tissues in your body. The higher your blood sugar and the longer you are living with it, the greater is the risk for complications.
Complications associated with diabetes include:
- heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
- neuropathy
- nephropathy
- retinopathy and vision loss
- hearing loss
- foot damage such as infections and sores that don’t heal
- skin conditions such as bacterial and fungal infections
- Depression
- dementia
Gestational diabetes
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to problems in both the mother and the baby. Complications that may affect the baby include:
- premature birth
- Stillbirth
- higher-than-normal weight at birth
- increased risk for type 2 diabetes later in life
- low blood sugar
- jaundice
The mother can also develop complications such as preeclampsia or type 2 diabetes, or hypertension. The complications can be so life-threatening that she may require a C section. In addition, the mother is exposed to the risk of gestational diabetes in future pregnancies.
Treatment
Doctors treat diabetes differently based on the type of diabetes. Medications can be either taken orally or through injections.
Diabetes is also treated with the help of Ayurveda. Also called Madhumeham, this disease is characterized by sweet urine. Before starting with the treatment, the ayurvedic scholar will determine the type and causes of diabetes and give treatment accordingly.