Diabetes Symptoms and Dietary Guidelines

As per Ayurveda, the features of diabetes (madhumeha) are the sweetness of urine, weakness, boils, gangrene and drowsiness. Diabetes is a very common disease that can not be completely cured but can be managed (controlled) if proper care is taken. There are mainly two types of diabetes – type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. 

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (Insulin dependent or Juvenile diabetes) – The symptoms of type 1 diabetes occur suddenly. The major symptoms of insulin dependent diabetes are excessive thirst; frequent urination; sudden weight loss, for no apparent reason; weakness, drowsiness or exhaustion; sudden vision changes or blurred vision; nausea and vomiting.

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (Non-insulin dependent or Adult-onset diabetes) – The symptoms of type 2 diabetes occur gradually. The major symptoms of non-insulin dependent diabetes are any of the symptoms listed for type 1; tingling or numbness in hands or feet; itching of the skin and genitals; recurring of hard-to-heal skin, gum or urinary tract infections.

Risk factors for Diabetes

People at high risk include the following –

1. Heredity factors – Diabetes appears to have an inherited genetic tendency.
2. People over forty years – Type 2 diabetes is most common in middle and old age.
3. Overweight – The chance of developing type 2 diabetes doubles with every 20% excess weight. It is believed that excess body fat prevents insulin from working properly.

Dietary Guidelines for Diabetes

1. Sour fruits like tomatoes, jamun, oranges, pineapple and makoy are beneficial.
2. Curd made from cow’s milk is highly recommended in diabetes.
3. Do not take cereals, sugar and sugar preparations.
4. Take diet with a relatively low proportion of carbohydrates.

How to Manage Diabetes? - 388

Once diabetes develops, its cure is not possible. The disease may be so mild that the person may not need either insulin or medicine or even marked dietetic restrictions. A well controlled diabetic can look forward to a normal or a near normal life for many years. To control diabetes, below are some useful guidelines that every diabetic should know.

1. If there is a history of diabetes in the family, it is advisable to have an annual checkup to rule out diabetes. Blood sugar test one and a half hours after a heavy breakfast or lunch is a useful screening test. However, it is desirable to do a glucose tolerance test at an early stage to detect diabetes.

2. For those already diabetic, a periodic checkup is necessary to monitor one’s diabetes. This should include daily urine tests at home, and at least once a month, a blood sugar test is a reliable laboratory. Also, it is mandatory that once a year, a checkup of eyes, kidney, heart and feet is done by qualified specialists so that these complications, if present, can be diagnosed at an early stage and effectively treated before it becomes too late.

3. All diabetic patients need a suitable diet. In the case of many, especially those with an excess weight, it can be controlled by diet alone. In addition to diet, some need insulin and others can be treated with oral drugs. A combination of insulin and oral drugs may be useful at times. Exercise is an important part of the treatment of diabetes.

4. You should always aim to keep your blood sugar under control. It is also desirable to keep your body weight at the optimum level. Additionally, you should also frequently keep your blood pressure, as well as the serum cholesterol and triglycerides, the two fats in the blood, under control. This will greatly reduce the risk of developing diabetes complications, and help the diabetic live a long and healthy life.

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