Diabetes is one of the most common yet challenging health concerns that people face.
Studies report that nearly 11% of the world population is dealing with diabetes. And yes, it's challenging to manage. However, not impossible.
Ayurveda is an ancient medical science, suggesting solutions that may help manage diabetes. In this blog, you will come across useful information regarding diabetes, its types and how to treat and control them.
So, let’s dive right in and build a healthier life.
Types of Diabetes in Ayurveda
According to Ayurveda, there are twenty types of Prameha - four types can crop up because of vata, six occur because of pitta and 10 occur because of kapha. Madhumeha, a subtype of Prameha is characterised by urine that is sweet and is co related with diabetes.
Primarily we have two types of Prameha that are common in Ayurveda:
- Avarana
- Dhatuksyaya
As per Ayurveda, Avarana occurs because of a blockage in the paths of channels. The blockage may be caused by aggravated Kapha. This causes adult-onset diabetes. On the other hand, Dhatukshaya refers to the depletion of tissues in the body. This can cause juvenile diabetes.
Apart from that, Ayurveda considers digestion to be a very important process.
The effective working of the digestive system requires the digestive fire known as Agni to be working well. If this digestive fire is weak (because of Dosha imbalance or other reasons), it can cause various problems. It results in a buildup of toxins that could affect the normal working of the body. It can also weaken the immunity and the body cannot fight infections and diseases.
Diabetes Symptoms
Some of the most common type 1 diabetes symptoms and type 2 diabetes symptoms are:
Type 1 diabetes symptoms:
- Extreme thirst
- Excessive hunger
- Dry mouth
- Upset stomach
- Urge to vomit
- Sudden weight loss
- Constant fatigue
- Blurry vision
Type 2 diabetes symptoms:?
- Extreme thirst
- Unusually frequent urination
- Excessive hunger
- Unintended weight loss
- Fatigue
- Slow-healing wounds
- Frequent urination
Diabetes can often mask the symptoms of other diseases. People who have diabetes may also have other health concerns, such as those relating to the heart or kidney. However, because of diabetes, they may not feel the symptoms. This happens because of excess blood sugar. There are many cases of people suffering a mild heart attack and not knowing about it because of high diabetes levels. Therefore, it is very important to keep blood sugar levels under control. Causes of Two Types of Diabetes There are several triggers that can give rise to diabetes. Here’s a list of some of the most common causes of diabetes.
Causes of Type 1 Diabetes
The primary cause of type 1 diabetes is not known. However, in this condition, the immune system can start attacking the insulin-producing cells present in the pancreas. As a result, the insulin levels in the body can drop dramatically.
This increases the blood sugar level in your bloodstream. It’s said that type 1 diabetes can crop up because of a mix of susceptibility and various environmental factors. However, being overweight is not considered a reason for type 1 diabetes. Apart from that, lack of insulin production also results in type 1 diabetes. Insulin is an essential hormone secreted by the pancreas (gland). It also helps lower the blood sugar levels. When the blood sugar is high, the pancreas secretes more insulin to maintain the sugar level. In a diabetic condition, the insulin secretion goes down. As a result, sugar levels go up. So, primarily, lack of insulin production is the reason that causes diabetes. However, there are other conditions that can trigger this condition.
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
Prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes. However, in this condition, your cells can become resistant to insulin and its actions. Also, as the pancreas cannot create insulin, your body may find it challenging to overcome this resistance. While the actual cause of type 2 diabetes is uncertain, its condition,believed to crop up because of genetic and environmental reasons. Unlike type 1 diabetes, being overweight is a primary reason behind type 2 diabetes. However, everyone who has type 2 diabetes is not overweight.
Causes of Gestational Diabetes
While pregnant, the human body produces hormones that sustain the pregnancy situation. These hormones make your cells resistant. In a general scenario, our pancreas produces enough insulin to overcome this resistance.
However, your pancreas may not keep up. In such situations, the amount of glucose entering your cells reduces. This results in gestational diabetes.