Diabetes management; move on in life

The word diabetes bothers us all; makes us worry about severe health conditions – from infections to amputations, and from sweet-consumption to stroke and heart attack. However, if we make the right lifestyle changes, that would not really hamper our cosy spectrum, we can easily sail through life.

To put the term in simple words: diabetes is nothing but a condition caused by elevated sugar levels due to deficiency in insulin production or absorption in our body.

Many factors like lifestyle, the lack of exercise, diet, genetics, among others, may lead to either of the three types of diabetes; Type 1 or Type 2 or gestational diabetes. We must focus on managing diabetes in the best possible way.

Your body tells you

You should check for a few simple signs and symptoms for early detection of diabetes. Thirst and dry mouth along with tiredness, fatigue and irritability are a few primary symptoms. You may feel an increased urge for urination, especially, more often during the night. The other symptoms are sudden changes in weight, increased urge to eat sweets, blurred vision, headache and nausea, and skin problems like itchiness and frequent boils.

Understand your tests

Basis these symptoms if you investigate, and if you fasting blood sugar levels (BSL) are between 110mg/dL- 126mg/dL then you are a non-diabetic. But if it goes beyond 126mg/dL then you are considered to be diabetic. Post glucose intake of 75 gm, the BSL between 140mg/dL- 199mg/dL is considered to be signalling impaired glucose tolerance and above 200mg/dL is considered diabetic. In recent times, however, HbA1C levels are given more importance by the doctors, and HbA1C equal to or more than 6.5% are also considered as diagnostic for diabetes.

Examining concerns through the homoeopathic window

Homoeopathic medicines are never generic. Depending upon your lifestyle, personalised medicine is prepared to control the blood sugar levels. Also, prior to the medicine preparation and selection, a detailed case study of the patient is conducted so that one can have a medicine that will suit his/her lifestyle along with controlled BSL. Use of specific remedies for immediate reduction of high BSL is done by medicines like Phosphoric acid, Natrum phos, Abroma, Syzigium.

Wiping away skin issues

Itchiness and eruptions are common among diabetic patients. A patient came to my clinic with trouble dealing with itchiness and eruptions around her groin area. After the initial treatment, the eruptions reduced but were not completely cured. After more examination, I realised that it was a case of Tinea curis (fungal infection around the groin area). Her high BSL was the reason for these eruptions and the itchiness. I prescribed her medicine to resolve her skin complaints and after three weeks the skin issues were cured. After a month, her BSL was normal as well. I assisted the patient in managing her diabetes with a diet plan and supported it with a few homoeopathic medicines; her BSL has been normal since.

Controlling blood sugar levels and hypothyroidism

Higher BSL during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes; the BSL is normal pre-pregnancy among these women. Pregnant at 34, my patient was diagnosed with gestational diabetes along with hypothyroidism. She visited my clinic post-delivery She complained of urinary infection. Despite exercising regularly and following a diet regimen, and regular intake of medicines she failed to reduce weight and could not resolve the issues of high BSL. She was then prescribed medicine to resolve the infection. Considering her schedule, height, and weight I prepared a diet plan for her which led to a loss of 6 kg in three months along with stable BSL and thyroid levels after a span of four weeks. She still monitors her BSL and thyroid levels; all under control with the help of the prescribed homoeopathic medicines.

Be careful with the future complications

Initial diabetes may not have a profound effect on your health but as time passes, and especially if it is not managed well, diabetes can result into a range of health complications. You can still alter your present diabetic conditions to avoid complications, which are:

Diabetic retinopathy: A common cause of blindness in the age group 35-60. Can be avoided if you keep a constant check on BSL and go for fundoscopic screening for your eyes. Homoeopathic remedies like Tarantula Cubensis and Aurum met are helpful to cure this.

Diabetic nephropathy: This is a diabetic complication wherein the patient suffers from an impaired kidney function along with loss of protein from the urine. The primary symptom is experiencing an increased urge for urination. This follows with nausea, vomiting, tiredness, facial puffiness and swelling on the feet. The homoeopathic remedies are Urea PURA, Ampelopsis Quinfolia Apis Mel, Spongia and Lactic acid.

Diabetic neuropathy: High BSL causes injury to the blood vessels supplying nerves leading to tingling and numbness, pain, abnormal sensation to a body part, erectile dysfunction and loss of bladder control. Homoeopathic remedies like Pumbum met, Hypericum, Secale cor are helpful to aid diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic foot: The peripheral arteries and nerves around the foot get affected leading to poor blood circulation along with impaired sensation. This would lead to a non-healing wound which may further result in gangrene if proper and immediate care is not taken. The homoeopathic remedies are Gun powder, Arsenicum Alb and Staphylococcicum.

Walk an extra mile

If you decide to completely rely on medicines without taking extra efforts then you are heading towards the wrong direction. Medicines help in controlling blood sugar levels only if the intake is supported with a particular routine or minor changes in daily habits and lifestyle. Some of those easy yet important things you must do to help in controlling the sugar levels are:

1. Regular exercise should include a combination of cardio exercises like a 45-minute brisk walk along with muscle strengthening exercises.

2. Weight loss helps to repair metabolic disorder.

3. Follow a low carbohydrate diet and shift towards high protein and high fibre foods.

4. Performing yoga asanas like mandukasana (frog pose) is beneficial in controlling BSL.

Reference

1. The increasing burden of diabetes and variations among the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2016. Lancet Global health. September 2018.

2. Principles and practices of Medicine by Sir Stanley Davidson.

3. Diabetes mellitus a homoeopathic approach published by Central Council of research in Homoeopathy.

4. Homoeopathy Simplified by Dr Sanjeev Dole.

5. Role of homoeopathy in diabetes by Dr Farokh Master.

6. Efficacy of homoeopathic treatment for diabetic distal symmetric polyneuropathy: A multicentric randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial by Rajkumar Manchanda, Bindu Sharma and Pritha Mehra. Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy. 2013. 7(4): 145-152