Ayurvedic Tips for Type 2 Diabetes

TYPE 2 DIABETES Ayurvedic Tips

To diagnose type 2 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
• Oral glucose tolerance test: Calculates fasting blood sugar level at empty stomach, followed by drinking of sugary liquid and periodic testing for blood sugar levels for the next 2 hours.

Once diagnosed, A1C levels should be checked 2-4 times a year. 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 along with regular eye and foot exams are also performed. ⁷

Screening for type 2 diabetes is recommended for people who are overweight, aged 45 and above, have family history of diabetes, have a heart condition, have high blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg) and lead a sedentary life.⁷

Diet Recommendations (Aahar)

• Increase intake of barley in diet helps in drying up of excess fat / meda.
• 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 to add fibre to diet.
• Pulses such as adhaki (arahar), horse gram (kulattha), and green gram (mudga) are beneficial.
• Vegetables such as green banana, chaulee, dwarf copperleaf (matsyakhshi), methi (fenugreek leaves), bitter gourd, Parawal, Kunduru, Lauki  along with bitter and astringent leafy vegetables may be taken.
• Include fruits such as orange, watermelon, apple, jambu, kapitha, amla, papaya  and other fruits with low sugar content.
• Soyabean, groundnut, and mustard oil may be beneficial.
• 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.
• Regular dry massage or udvartan may be beneficial.
• Taking regular steam bath may help reduce fat in obese diabetics.
• Taking sitz or waist bath (warm shallow bath to cleanse the genital area) also helps.
• Include pranayama (breathing exercise) in your daily routine.