Ayurvedic Tips for Type 1 Diabetes

TYPE 1 DIABETES Ayurvedic Tips

To diagnose type 1 diabetes, the doctor may perform one or both 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

Once diagnosed, the doctor will run blood tests to check for autoantibodies that are common in type 1 diabetes. In addition, the doctor will take blood and urine samples periodically to check for cholesterol levels, thyroid function, liver function and kidney function. Blood pressure test will also be performed.

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, horse gram (kulattha), and 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 orange, watermelon, apple, jambu, kapitha and amla.
• In foods, oils such as soyabean oil, groundnut oil and mustard oil may be beneficial.
• Having karela juice or white pumpkin 20-30 ml on an empty stomach may be beneficial.
• 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.

Yoga:

• Tadasana, Salabhasana, Dhanurasana and Paschimottanasana may be useful.