Ayurvedic Remedies to Curb Diabetes

With an alarming increase in the number of people suffering from diabetes in India, the country has been labelled as the new diabetes capital of the world. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that results in higher levels of blood sugars in the body. A major concern here is that diabetes does not come alone, it brings along an array of complications with it. Eyesight problems, heart issues, slow wound healing, nerve damage etc. Hence,  managing diabetes is really crucial.

There are various ways to manage your blood sugar levels, Ayurveda being one. In Ayurveda diabetes is referred to as as Prameha (excessive urination) and Madhumeha (sugary urine) and has identified close to 20 forms of the disease. According to Ayurvedic belief, each disease is caused due to imbalance in kapha, pitta, and vata doshas and diabetes is caused by all these, predominantly by kapha.

So, here are a few Ayurvedic remedies that can help in controlling diabetes:

1. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum): Consuming 10g of fenugreek seeds soaked in water increases the amount of insulin produced, thereby increasing sugar breakdown.

2. Gymnema sylvestre: Used to manage diabetes for over 2000 years, it reduces sugar cravings and is seen as the future for diabetes treatment.

3. Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia): It has 3 components that give it strong antidiabetic properties. The charantin reduces blood sugar levels; the polypeptide has insulin-like effects; and lectin that again has hypoglycemic effects.

4. Neem: Chewing about 4 to 5 leaves in the morning on an empty stomach helps to control blood sugar levels. Alternately, neem leaves powder is available which can be dissolved in water and consumed easily.

5. Bel (Aegle marmelos): Also known as wood apple, leaves of the plant are shown to have antidiabetic properties. 5 to 10 leaves can be chewed on a daily basis to help control blood sugar levels.

6. Jambhul: Eugenia Jambolana whether eaten raw or in the form of juice extract, it has been shown to have beneficial effects in managing sugar levels and cholesterol.

With the help of these Ayurvedic remedies you can well-manage diabetes. But, along with this you must also be careful about your eating habits and staying active.