Ayurvedic Tips for Diabetes in menopause

DIABETES IN MENOPAUSE Ayurvedic Tips

Since menopausal women are mostly aged 45 and above, diabetes screening is highly recommended. To diagnose diabetes, the doctor may perform one or more of the following tests:

• Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test: Calculates average blood sugar level for the past 2-3 months
• Fasting blood sugar test: Calculates blood sugar levels after an overnight fast (for atleast eight hours)
• Oral glucose tolerance test: Calculates fasting blood sugar level at empty stomach, followed by drinking of sugary liquid and blood sugar levels will be measured after 2 hours.

Once diagnosed, A1C levels should be checked 2-4 times a year. In addition, the doctor will advise for routine blood and urine examinations periodically to check for cholesterol levels, thyroid function, liver function and kidney function. Blood pressure checking along with regular eye and foot examinations is also important ⁸.

Diet Recommendations (Aahar)

• Increase intake of barley in diet as it is considered the main food for healing diabetes.
• Turmeric and cinnamon combination is beneficial in early stages of diabetes.
• Have herbs like gokshura, gudmar, triphalá, musta, cardamom, fenugreek, or coriander, mixed with honey.
• Include other cereals such as wheat, kodo millet and rice which crops within 60 days.
• Pulses such as adhaki (Arahar), horse gram (kulattha), green gram (mudga), along with bitter and astringent leafy vegetables may be taken.
• Include vegetables such as green banana, chaulee, dwarf copperleaf (matsyakhshi), methi (fenugreek leaves) and bitter gourd.
• Include fruits such as Papaya, Guava, apple, jambu, kapitha and amla.
• Soyabean, ground nut, Mustard oil may be beneficial
• Have karela juice or white pumpkin 20-30 ml on an empty stomach.
• Regularly have methi seeds soaked overnight in water.
• Avoid sugar, sugar products, rice, potato, ghee, butter, fat, regular oil, fermented food items, alcohol, urad (blackgram), rajma (kidney beans) and other heavy items.

Lifestyle changes (Vihar)

• Start exercising regularly. Walking, swimming, running or yogasanas are highly beneficial.
• Have regular oil massage.
• Take regular steam.
• Taking sitz or waist bath (warm shallow bath to cleanse the genital area) also helps.
• Include pranayama (breathing exercise) in your daily routine.