Indian Diabetic Cures

What is diabetes?
Diabetes can be defined as the condition in which the body is unable to use insulin (the hormone produced by pancreas) because of its inadequate secretion. Insulin is the hormone that is responsible for converting starch into energy. Due to this the blood sugar level increases resulting in various complications ranging from loss of vision to even coma! Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus, as it termed medically, also increases the chances of stroke and other heart problems. Studies show that almost 17 million people in the United States suffer from diabetes.

There are three kinds of diabetes that have been recognized in the last thirty years. They are
• Type 1
• Type 2
• Gestational
Though these are the most commonly accepted ‘types of diabetes’, there may be patients who may not fall in any of these and display characteristics that are very unique.

What are the common symptoms of diabetes?
It is difficult to recognize the symptoms of diabetes as they are very common and appear harmless. The symptoms include:
• Excessive thirst
• Recurrent urination
• Mood swings like irritability
• Exhaustion
• Extreme hunger
• Blurred vision
Research has shown that with an early detection and treatment, diabetes can be cured. Hence on the appearance of any one or all of these symptoms, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Health complications
Diabetes can cause severe health problems like kidney failure, strokes, heart attacks, damaging of the nerves, blindness, gangrene (that in extreme conditions may lead to amputation of a body part) and impotence in men.

Use of herbs for the treatment of diabetes
Right from the ancient times, various herbs are used to treat this chronic illness in India. Even research has confirmed the effectiveness of these traditional medicines.

Listed below are some of the well known herbs that can combat this disease
Pterocarpus marsupium
Onion and garlic
Fenugreek
Gymnema Sylvestre
Bitter Melon
Blueberry
Asian Ginseng
Bilberry
Stevia
Ginkgo Biloba

According to the Ayurveda, there are over 500 herbal remedies to treat diabetes and till date these are used for curing this disease. The herb Gymnema Sylvestre, available in both India and Africa is well known for curbing the longing for sweetness. It is also helps to reduce the blood fats as well as the blood sugar levels. This herb increases the number of beta cells in the pancreas; however, this study is based on the research conducted on diabetic rats.

Cinnamon, the bark of the tree that is usually used for culinary purpose, is also effective in combating diabetes. It has been proved that cinnamon increases the rate of conversion of glucose into energy and also blocks out the free radicals. Research has shown that this herb has remarkable qualities to control diabetes – more than 70 percent of the diabetic population reported positive results.

Fenugreek, also used primarily for culinary purposes, has been long used in India to fight diabetes. Consuming approximately 15 grams of fenugreek seed powder everyday significantly reduces blood sugar levels and triglycerides. This is particularly effective for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Jambolan, an herb belonging to the family to cloves, has been used since ancient times as an anti-diabetic drug. It reduces the blood sugar level very fast with almost no side effects. Jambolan consists of oleanolic acid that prevents the production of free radicals.

Another herb that has been used by Indian Ayurvedic practitioners to treat type 2 diabetes is bitter melon extract. It contains a polypeptide that is similar to the polypeptide present in insulin. Bitter Gourd (karela), a popular vegetable in India is also effective in treating diabetes.