Diabetes is a systemic disease that affects almost every part of your body. Of these, the digestive system is the most badly affected. While gastrointestinal disorders are commonly experienced by everyone, diabetics have a much higher risk of suffering from indigestion, food poisoning, gallstones and ulcers. Some of the most common gastrointestinal problems experienced by diabetics are:

Gastroparesis: High blood sugar levels can damage the vagus nerve that controls the emptying of the stomach. As a result fo this damage, the muscles of the stomach and intestines do not work optimally leading to a condition known as Gastroparesis. This is a condition where the stomach is not able to empty itself properly and the digestion process is slowed down. Gastroparesis can cause bloating, nausea, pain in the abdomen, heart burn and a loss of appetite. It can also cause undigested food in the stomach to harden and form lumps that block food from moving into the intestines. This disease cannot be cured but can be managed with medication and a special diet.
Ulcers: Stomach ulcers can be described as open sores that develop on the inner lining of the stomach, oesophagus and beginning of the small intestine. These ulcers form as a result of bacterial infections. Diabetes weakens a person s immune system thus reducing their ability to fight these infections and increasing the risk of developing ulcers. Diabetes also increases the risk of bleeding from these ulcers and secondary infections that may arise from it.
Yeast infections: Diabetics are extremely vulnerable to yeast infections. This is aggravated by fluctuation in blood sugar levels and can extend from the mouth to the oesophagus. Common symptoms of this type of yeast infection are pain in the throat and difficulty swallowing. It may also cause heartburn and intestinal bleeding if left untreated.
Celiac sprue: This condition creates gluten allergies and causes the inflammation and thinning of the small intestine s mucosa. In some cases, this condition may interfere with the absorption of food and lead to diarrhoea and weight loss.
Diabetic diarrhoea: Patients who have been suffering from diabetes for a few years may experience an increased urge to pass stools frequently. This is usually related to gastric problems in the colon which cause fluids to move at a faster than normal speed through the small bowel and colon. It may also be caused due to the secretion of fluids in the colon and improper absorption of food.

5 Common Gastric Problems Experienced By Diabetics!!

Ayurvedic medicines teach us that the health of the digestive system is the most important factor and determinant in the long term for your health and well-being. Healthy digestion leads to a healthy life and vice-a-versa. But is it always that simple? Yes! As, healthy digestion ensures that all the nutrients that are ingested through food are assimilated by the cells that compose it. When digestion is weak, the tissues of your body such as muscles, blood and nerves become weak and susceptible to disease. 

Symptoms of poor digestion include 

Excess gas
Constipation
Diarrhea
Belching
Burning
Vomiting
Indigestion
Swelling 
Pain
Through the eyes, the Ayurvedic practitioner comes to understand the cause of the disease, he does so by examining the patient's way of life. Incorrect eating habits are the first amongst many culprits. Poor food choices and poor diet, combined, are next in line. Together they are the main causes of digestive diseases.The following points play a key role in the Ayurvedic pathogenesis of digestive disorders. The nature of its imbalance and how it interacts determines how the disease occurs.

Jatharagni: This is the digestive fire that regulates the catabolism (breakdown) of food into smaller molecules for digestion. When the body is healthy, it is able to assimilate properly. When the initial digestion of the food is very weak, it is compromised, either the malabsorption will take place or ama will be formed. When it is too strong it produces burning.
Samana vayu: This is a sub-type vata that regulates the absorption of nutrients in the body. Assuming it decomposes properly, samana vayu can guide its absorption. Not only does samana vayu govern absorption, but it also directly affects the Agni as well as the wind when it blows over the fire. If the wind is strong, the fire is strong. If the wind is weak, the fire burns low. If the wind varies, so does the fire. A defective samana vayu can cause gas, diarrhea and malabsorption.
Apana vayu: This type of vata governs the downward movement. In particular, the excretion of toxins and feces. At the point when disposal is sound defecations are strong, yet delicate. When apana vayu is defective, a variety of problems such as constipation and diarrhea manifest themselves.
Kledak kapha: This type of kapha governs the mucous lining that protects the digestive system; in particular, of the stomach. When health is in balance, Agni and vayu also protect the membranes from heat or dryness. When there is an excess of mucus, it results in nausea. When it diminishes, the membranes become susceptible to the irritant effects of Agni and the effects that cause drying in vayu. In addition, an increase in the strength of kapha can block the digestive tract and cause constipation.

Constipation - Understanding The Ayurveda Prespective!

Urinary Incontinence is the sudden urine loss that occurs involuntarily in women. Some of the factors which cause urinary incontinence are pregnancy, menopause and childbirth. It should be noted that urinary incontinence by itself is not a disease, but is a symptom of other underlying disorders such as diabetes, infections and other conditions.

Causes of temporary cases of urinary incontinence include:
1. Constipation
2. Urinary tract infections
3. Excess consumption of alcohol and caffeine
4. Consuming carbonated drinks
5. Use of artificial sweeteners
6. High doses of vitamin B and vitamin C
7. Being on sedatives, muscle relaxants, blood pressure and heart medications
8. Eatables which are too spicy, acidic or sugary

However, persistence of incontinence might be due to a more serious condition. Some of the causes are stated below:

Age: The bladder muscles tend to weaken with age. This affects the bladder s urine holding capacity.
Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and increase in weight during pregnancy can cause incontinence.
Menopause: Oestrogen is responsible for the healthy maintenance of the lining of the urethra and bladder. The onset of menopause causes the oestrogen hormone levels to drop. The gradual damage of the bladder tissues causes incontinence.
Childbirth: The bladder control muscles are weakened during normal vaginal delivery, thus leading to incontinence.
Obstruction: Occurrence of tumours in the urinary tract can block the normal flow of urine which can cause incontinence.
Hysterectomy: The same ligaments and muscles support both the bladder as well as the urethra. With removal of the uterus by hysterectomy, the pelvic floor muscles are deteriorated. This leads to urinary incontinence.
Neurological disorders: Conditions such as multiple sclerosis (autoimmune disorder in which the immune system destroys the protective sheath of the nerves), Parkinson s disease (disorder affecting motor functioning of the body), brain tumours, spinal injury or strokes are capable of causing incontinence.

Different forms of urinary incontinence are classified on the basis of their symptoms:

Urge incontinence: Urge or urgency incontinence occurs when there is a leak before the person reaches the toilet.
Stress incontinence: Small amounts of urine leak out during normal physical movements such as sneezing, coughing and exercising. This happens because of the minimum stress exerted on the body, and hence, the name.
Functional incontinence: Sudden leakage of urine occurs due to external deterrents or physical disabilities such as not being able to find a toilet.
Overactive Bladder: This is characterized by frequent and urgent urination.
Overflow incontinence: A full bladder, at times, leads to unexpected leakage.
Transient incontinence: If urine leakage occurs due to temporary situations such as infections, or new medications.

Did You Know - Constipation Can Also be a Sign of Urinary Incontinence

Constipation is a condition characterized by extreme difficulty in emptying the bowels. It is characterized by hardening of the feces. Ayurvedic remedies have been considered since a long time to support healthy bowel movements. Acute constipation can also be a sign of Crohn s disease or irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptoms of constipation:
1. Immense strain during bowel movements
2. Inability to have proper bowel movements
3. A feeling of being blocked up from within
4. Hard and dry feces

How can you get rid of constipation with Ayurvedic remedies?

Increase fluid intake: If you are suffering from constipation, it is vital to drink about 80 ounces of herbal tea or water per day. Warm fluids are the best way to keep your body hydrated. These fluids should be consumed at least 20 minutes before a meal or 1 hour after a meal.
Increase organic oils in your diet: High quality oil helps lubricate your body tissues, so that appropriate amount of fat or oil can remain in the stool. Most oils are healthy, but the healthiest oils include olive oil, ghee and sesame oil.
Eat plenty of healthy fruits: Fruits are fibrous, hydrating and generally pacifying to your body. Fruits such as peaches, soaked prunes, soaked raisins, peeled apples and bananas should be consumed. It is vital to eat the fruits about an hour before your meals. While consuming these fruits, you should chew on them properly to attain maximum benefit. Pineapple juice is also very effective in facilitating bowel movements.
Consume soaked flax seeds or milk with ghee: Before going to bed, you should drink a cup of boiled milk with ghee or a tablespoon of flaxseeds soaked in a glass of water. This is an ideal remedy for constipation.
Herbs:  Triphala  herb (a traditional Ayurvedic herb) are generally prescribed by the Ayurvedic practitioners. It can be taken either in the tablet form or powdered form with a glass of warm water. Psyllium husk is also a natural source of insoluble and soluble fiber. It serves as a bulking agent and a demulcent in the colon. This facilitates the regular passing of feces.

Ayurvedic Ways To Help You Get Rid Of Constipation!

A fairly common disorder, which affects the intestines, irritable bowel syndrome affects many adults across the world. If you are suffering from this disorder then you would have problems with bowel movements, mostly the irregularity of it. Sometimes you may suffer from constipation, other times you may suffer from diarrhea and the type of stool will also vary often between thin and hard or soft and liquid.

Common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
Some of the common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome or ibs are as follows:

Constipation or diarrhea, the latter of which can become quite severe during certain episodes
Gas or bloating which can make you uncomfortable
Cramping around the stomach area especially the lower belly which tends to become worse after having food and better after bowel movements
Quality of stools may vary quite a lot from time to time such as very hard to lose
Stomach may start sticking out and become misshapen
May also come with sexual as well as urinary problems
Causes of irritable bowel syndrome
The causes for irritable bowel syndrome vary from person to person. This disorder usually has triggers and yours may be different from someone else suffering from the same problems. However some general triggers and causes could be:

Hormonal problems: this is especially the case with women who tends to suffer from ibs more than men. Hormonal changes in the body such as before and after pregnancy and menopause or periods are known to be common.
Dietary causes: this is one of the major external triggers that have been reported by people. A variety of foods are known to have triggered or cause ibs. Some of the foods that have been implicated are beans, chocolate, cauliflower, cabbage or milk among many others.
Underlying illnesses: sometimes ibs itself may be a symptom of a larger underlying problem such as gastrointestinal disorders, such as bacterial overgrowth and gastroenteritis.
Mental health and stress issues: people going through psychological stress such as before exams or reviews have known to have ibs as stress becomes a trigger in their case. If you have mental health issues in the long run, these are also known to trigger or cause ibs.
Treatment options
Some of the treatment options for ibs are:

Antibiotics
Mental health counseling
Antidepressants
Medications for bowel spasms
Medications for diarrhea or constipation
Specialized medications for ibs for other underlying conditions.

Symptoms, Causes and Treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Constipation is a irritating problem that mostly occurs due to the absence of adequate amount of fibre or water in your diet. It is caused by slow movement of food through the digestive tract. Constipation can occur due to poor bowel habit, eating less fiber, medications, hormonal issues or some other disease.


Here are some common solutions that can seriously help you out in constipation:
Yogurt: Excellent source of probiotics, which contain beneficial bacteria are a great remedy for constipation. However, you can take the humble homemade yogurt full of beneficial bacteria in your meal every day and get relief from constipation.
Oatmeal Tea: When things are severe, oatmeal is fibrous, honey is healing and moisturizing and chamomile is an anti-inflammatory agent, which soothes the stomach. Together, they can stop severe constipation. So, take a cup of water and add three teaspoons of oatmeal, a tea bag of chamomile and two teaspoons of honey. Drink 2-3 times a day if your problem is severe.
Baking soda: Baking soda is an effective cure for gas, pressure and pain in the digestive tract and stomach ache as excessive air is released from the body by its action. It also functions as a laxative by making the passage of accumulated waste products through the intestines a smooth process. Moreover, stool is loosened and passed without pain on its consumption. Directions - take a quarter cup of warm water and stir a teaspoon of baking soda into it. Consume the mixture as quickly as you can.
Castor oil: Castor oil is often referred to as a stimulant laxative and is a very useful remedy for constipation. Castor oil enables smooth movement and functioning of the intestines, making it easier for stool to pass.  Directions - drink 1 to 2 teaspoons of castor oil on an empty stomach. It takes about 8 hours to show its effect, so decide which time of the day will be suitable for you to consume it.
Coconut oil and flaxseed: A great combination coconut oil is a wonderful hydrating agent and eases stool. Flaxseeds help in the elimination of toxins, excess fat and cholesterol from the body. So in one tablespoon of coconut oil add half a teaspoon of flaxseeds, chew well and eat this every morning.

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