NATURE CURE
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a nutritional disorders,
characterized by an abnormally elevated level of blood glucose and by the
excretion of the excess glucose in the urine. It results from an absolute or
relative lack of insulin which leads to abnormalities in carbohydrate
metabolism as well as in the metabolism of protein and fat.
Diabetes is a disease known to the medical world since
time immemorial. Its incidence is ,however, much higher at present than ever in
the past. This is especially true in case of more advanced countries of the
world due to widespread affluence and more generous food supply.
The most commonly-used screening tests are the
determination of the fasting blood glucose level and the two-hour postprandial,
that is after a meal. The normal fasting blood sugar content is 80 to 120 mg.
per 100 ml. of blood and this can go up to a level of 180 mg. per 100 ml. of blood
two hours after meals. Anything above these norms can be termed diabetic
levels.
Diabetes occurs in all age groups, from young infants to
the elderly. The greatest incidence occurs in middle or older aged persons. It
is estimated that 80 to 85 per cent of all individuals with diabetes mellitus
are 45 years of age or older.
Symptoms
The word diabetes is derived from the Greek word meaning
"to siphon to pass through", and mellitus comes from the Latin word
"honey". Thus two characteristic symptoms, namely, copious urination
and glucose in the urine give the name to the disease. The normal volume of
urine passed daily is about one and a half litres. The urine is of a pale
colour, has an acidic reaction and sweetish odour. The quantity of sugar
present in it varies from one-and-quarter decigram to two and-a-half grams the
total per day in many cases reaching as much as one kg in 15 litres of urine.
A diabetic feels hungry and thirsty most of the time,
does not put on weight, though he eats every now and then, and gets tired
easily, both physically and mentally. He looks pale, may suffer from anaemia,
constipation, intense itching around the genital organs, palpitations and general
weakness. He feels drowsy and has a lower sex urge than a normal person.
Causes
Diabetes has been described by most biological doctors as
a "prosperity" disease, primarily caused by systematic overeating and
consequent obesity. Not only the overeating of sugar and refined carbohydrate
but also of proteins and fats, which are transformed into sugar if taken in excess,
is harmful and may result in diabetes. Too much food taxes the pancreas and
eventually paralyses its normal activity. It has been estimated that the
incidence of diabetes is four times higher in persons of moderate obesity and
30 times higher in persons of severe obesity.
Grief, worry and anxiety also have a deep influence on
the metabolism and may cause sugar to appear in the urine. The disease may be
associated with some other grave organic disorders like cancer, tuberculosis
and cerebral disease. Heredity is also a major factor in the development of the
disease. It has been rightly said, " Heredity is like a cannon and obesity
pulls the trigger."
Treatment
Any successful method of diabetes treatment should aim at
removal of the actual cause of the disease and building up of the whole
health-level of the patient. Diet plays a vital role in such a treatment. The
primary dietary consideration for a diabetic patient is that he should be a
strict lacto-vegetarian and take a low-calorie, low-fat, alkaline diet of high
quality natural foods. Fruits, nuts and vegetables, whole meal bread and dairy
products form a good diet for the diabetic.
These foods are best eaten in as dry a condition as
possible to ensure thorough salivation during the first part of the process of
digestion.
Cooked starchy foods should be avoided as in the process
of cooking the cellulose envelops of the starch granules burst and
consequently, the starch is far too easily absorbed in the system.
The excess absorbed has to be got rid of by the kidneys
and appears as sugar in the urine. With raw starchy foods, however, the saliva
and digestive juices in the small intestine regulate the quantities required to
be changed into sugar for the body’s needs. The unused and undigested portion
of raw starchy foods does not become injurious to the system, as it does not readily
ferment.
The diabetic should not be afraid to eat fresh fruits and
vegetables which contain sugar and starch. Fresh fruits contain sugar fructose,
which does not need insulin for its metabolism and is well tolerated by
diabetics. Fats and oils should be taken sparingly, for they are apt to lower
the tolerance for proteins and starches. Emphasis should be on raw foods as
they stimulate and increase insulin production. For protein, home- made cottage
cheese, various forms of soured milks and nuts are best. The patient should
avoid overeating and take four or five small meals a day rather than three
large ones.
The following diet should serve as a guideline.
Upon arising : A glass of
lukewarm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Breakfast : Any fresh
fruit with the exception of bananas, soaked prunes, a small quantity of whole
meal bread with butter and fresh milk.
Lunch : Steamed or
lightly cooked green vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, spinach,
turnip, asparagus and mushrooms, two or three whole wheat chapatis according to
appetite and a glass of butter-milk or curd.
Mid-afternoon : A glass of
fresh fruit or vegetable juice.
Dinner : A large bowl
of salad made up of all the raw vegetables in season. The salad may be followed
by a hot course, if desired, and fresh home-made cottage cheese.
Bedtime Snack : A glass of
fresh milk.
Flesh foods find no place in this regimen, for they
increase the toxaemic condition underlying the diabetic state and reduce the
sugar tolerance. On the other hand, a non-stimulating vegetarian diet,
especially one made up of raw foods, promotes and increases sugar tolerance.
Celery, cucumbers, string beans, onion and garlic are especiallybeneficial. String bean pod tea is an
excellent natural substitute for insulin and highly beneficial in diabetes. The
skin of the pods of green beans are extremely rich in silica and certain
hormone substances which are closely related to insulin. One cup of string bean
tea is equal to one unit of insulin. Cucumbers contain a hormone needed by the
cells of the pancreas for producing insulin. Onion and garlic have proved
beneficial in reducing blood sugar in diabetes.
Recent scientific investigations have established that bitter gourd (karela) is highly beneficial in the treatment of diabetes. It contains an insulin-like principle, known as
plant-insulin which has been found effective in lowering the blood and urine
sugar levels. It should, therefore, be included liberally in the diet of the
diabetic. For better results, the diabetic should take the juice of about 4 or
5 fruits every morning on an empty stomach. The seeds of bitter gourd can be added
to food in a powdered form. Diabetics can also use bitter gourd in the form of
decoction by boiling the pieces in water or in the form of dry powder.
Another effective home remedy is jambul fruit known as jamun in the vernacular. It is regarded in traditional
medicine as a specific against diabetes because of its effect on the pancreass. The fruits as such, the seeds and fruit juice are all
useful in the treatment of this disease.
The seeds contain a glucoside ‘jamboline’ which is
believed to have power to check the pathological conversion of starch into
sugar in cases of increased production of glucose. They should be dried and
powdered. This powder should be taken mixed in milk ,
curd or water.
The patient should avoid tea, coffee and cocoa because of
their adverse influence on the digestive tract. Other foods which should be
avoided are white bread, white flour products, sugar tinned fruits, sweets,
chocolates, pastries, pies, puddings, refined cereals and alcoholic drinks.
The most important nutrient in the treatment of diabetes
is manganese which is vital in the production of natural insulin. It is found
in citrus fruits, in the outer covering of nuts,
grains and in the green leaves of edible plants.
Other nutrients of special value are zinc, B
complex vitamins and poly-unsaturated fatty acids.
Exercise is also an important factor in the treatment of diabetes. Light games, jogging and swimming are recommended.
Yogic asanas such as bhujangasana, shalabhasana, dhanurasana,
paschimottanasana, sarvangasna, halasana, ardha-matsyendrasana and shavasana,
yogic krisyas like jalneti and kunajl and pranayamas such as kapalbhati, anuloma-viloma
and ujjai are highly beneficial.
Hydrotherapy and colonic irrigations form a very
important part of treatment. The colon
should be thoroughly cleansed every second day or so, until the bowel discharge
assumes normal characteristics. Bathing in cold water greatly increases the
circulation and enhances the capacity of the muscles to utilise sugar.
The diabetic patient should eliminate minor worries from
his daily life. He must endeavor to be more easy-going and should not get
unduly worked up by the stress and strain of life.
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