Unfortunately, India is known as the Diabetes capital of the world. Nearly 50 million people in our country suffer from diabetes. We have a big challenge to control diabetes and prevent it from occurring in our future generations. We can only do that when we know what it is, what causes it and how to cure it naturally.
Understanding Diabetes
The elevated sugar level in our blood is called diabetes. The two main reasons for this include – when our body doesn’t produce insulin and when our body doesn’t respond to the insulin produced. Normally, insulin is broken down by our body and used as energy that is transported to our cells. Type I and Type II are the two kinds of diabetes, out of which Type II is more common in India. Type I is when the body is partly or entirely unable to produce insulin and is commonly found in people below the age of 20. In Type II diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin but the body can’t respond to it. It usually occurs in people above the age of 40. The reasons behind Type II diabetes include hormone imbalance, high-stress levels, poor diet, particular medications and leading a sedentary lifestyle.
What’s The Cure?
If you want to live a medicine free life, you can opt for many natural home remedies to keep your diabetes under control. Simple things like regular exercise, drinking lots of water, getting enough sleep and controlling stress levels can play a major role in regulating your sugar levels. You also need to focus on a diabetes-friendly diet plan and can try homeopathy for long-term benefits.
We bring you some natural ways to keep your sugar levels within limits:
1. Eggs
They are known to reduce the risk of heart disease. They control blood sugar, protect eye health and keep your stomach full. Eat whole eggs as the benefits of eggs are primarily due to nutrients found in the yolk rather than the white.
2. Chia seeds
They contain high amounts of fiber, are low in digestible carbs and may decrease blood pressure and inflammation too. Due to its high fiber content it reduces sugar by keeping your stomach full for longer time.
3. Turmeric
Turmeric contains curcumin, which may reduce blood sugar levels and inflammation, while protecting against heart and kidney disease. Have it at bedtime with milk and ghee to strengthen your inner mechanism.
4. Flaxseeds
They may reduce inflammation, lower heart disease risk, decrease blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. Have one teaspoon only as more than that increases your fat content in blood.
5. Garlic
It helps lower blood sugar, inflammation, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure in people with diabetes. Two cloves grated can be taken any time with lukewarm water to fight diabetes.
6. The Bitter Yet Better Aloe Vera
Though Aloe Vera has a bitter taste, it has anti-inflammatory properties that can control blood sugar levels. You can combine it with buttermilk to enhance its taste and consume it regularly to lower the risks of diabetes.
7. A Sprinkle of Cinnamon
A bioactive compound in Cinnamon can help in fighting and preventing diabetes. Studies show that cinnamon can reduce the blood sugar levels by 29% as it stimulates the insulin activity in the body. It may also improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels in type 2 diabetics. Only pinch of it with warm water and consume it daily is enough to play its role.
8. Eat Fenugreek Seeds
As fenugreek seeds are a good source of soluble fibre, they help in controlling blood sugar levels in our body. They can also help in reducing fasting glucose and enhancing glucose tolerance. These are one of the safest herbs for diabetes and can be added to baked goods, consumed after soaking at night or brewed into your daily tea. You can use it before or after your meals.
Knowledge is good but Usage of all the above medicinal foods depend on your sugar levels so better consult and then experiment!
Here are the things that you should definitely avoid when suffering from diabetes.
Things not to have ever if you have diabetes
1. Sodas and Sweet Drinks
These are high in carbs, which increases blood sugar. Also, their high fructose content has been linked to insulin resistance and an increased risk of obesity, fatty liver and other diseases.
2. Trans Fats
Trans fats are found in margarines, peanut butter, spreads, creamers and frozen dinners, crackers, muffins and other baked goods. They increase the bad cholesterol which again leads to high sugar in blood. People with high trans-fat content are more prone for heart diseases.
3. White Bread, Pasta and Rice
These are high in carbs yet low in fiber. This combination can result in high blood sugar levels. When suffering with diabetes you must always opt for high-fiber. The whole foods help in reducing blood sugar response.
4. Fruit-Flavored Yogurts
They are usually low in fat but high in sugar, which can lead to higher blood sugar and insulin levels. Plain, whole-milk yogurt is a better choice for diabetes control and overall health.
5. Breakfast Cereals
Cereals are high in carbs but low in protein. A high-protein, low-carb breakfast is the best option for diabetes and appetite control.
6. Flavored Coffee Drinks
These are very high in liquid carbs, which can raise blood sugar levels and fail to satisfy your hunger. To keep your blood sugar under control and prevent weight gain chooses plain coffee or espresso with a tablespoon of milk or heavy cream.
7. Unsweetened Fruit Juice
As crazy it may sound but unsweetened fruit juice contains at least as much sugar as sodas do. Its high fructose content can worsen insulin resistance, promote weight gain and increase the risk of heart disease. A much better alternative is to enjoy water with a wedge of lemon, which provides less than 1 gram of carbs and is virtually calorie-free.
The key to leading a medicine free life from diabetes is to focus on your lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight. Weight control promotes healthy blood sugar levels and can also reduce your risk of developing diabetes. With the help of these home remedies and some effective homeopathy cures, you can keep your diabetes under control and live a better quality of life in the long run.
Word of Caution – Usage of home remedies is not generalised! Please consult a doctor or nutritionist for consuming any of the above.