Diabetes is a chronic disease involving a high concentration of glucose in the blood. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 400 million people worldwide live with the condition, making it one of the most significant global health challenges. Diabetes manifests itself with a wide range of symptoms, including polyuria (excessive urination), excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) distinguishes between two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas, which produce insulin. This destruction is believed to be autoimmune in origin.
In type 2 diabetes, however, the body becomes resistant to the action of insulin or produces insufficient amounts of it to meet the body’s needs.
The body converts food to glucose (sugar) and then uses it for energy. Insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas, tells the body how much sugar to release into the bloodstream. Ultimately diabetes occurs when there is not enough insulin or when the body doesn’t use insulin properly. This causes too much sugar to stay in the bloodstream resulting in persistent high blood sugar.
According to allopathic medicine, diabetes management requires a multidisciplinary approach, which may include drug therapies, lifestyle changes and regular monitoring of blood glucose levels. The ADA recommends a balanced diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins, and regular physical activity to maintain a healthy body weight and control blood sugar. Recent scientific studies have highlighted the importance of personalizing diabetes treatment based on the individual characteristics of patients. Mr. P. R. Sarkar reiterates that insulin may increase the vitality of a patient but can never cure the disease.
In the vision of Ananda Marga Yoga Naturopathy (AMYN) according to Yoga Cikitsa, there are additional and less common symptoms such as: the burning sensation in the urinary tract, the attraction of flies and ants towards the urine, headache, dizziness, pale and dry skin, and the premature appearance of aging. Diabetic people are often found to suffer from cataracts.
According to the AMYN, a central cause of diabetes is a weakness in the the solar plexus (mańipura cakra). Amongst the pancreatic juices, one secretion helps in the digestion of food, and another separates the sugar content from non-vegetarian and starchy types of food. The sugar is then stored in a particular section of the liver and according to body requirements it is dissolved to generate heat and vital power to run the body mechanism. Chronic indigestion, constipation (here also the stool usually turns into pellets), mental exertion without any physical labor, use of intoxicants, and excessive seminal waste – all weaken the vitality of the liver. When such weakening takes place, the sugar contents of the food, failing to find a storage place in the liver, are assimilated into the blood and gradually accumulate. As a result, the blood gets polluted and loses its immune properties to a great extent.
Sometimes sugar is completely absent in the urine. In this respect one has to remember that sugar may be found temporarily in the urine if the urinary bladder, kidney or some other internal organ is weak or not functioning properly. If in such cases insulin is given, it could actually harm the patient. Under such circumstances, one suggestion would be to treat the injury of the concerned organ appropriately (detox, parasite cleanse, proper mineralisation for example), and then the urine of the patient could automatically become sugar-free.
The human body needs the nutrients offered by starchy and vegetarian types of food; therefore foods which are not acidic but rather alkaline, yet contain those nutrients, should be taken in greater quantities to meet those needs. This will include coconut, peanut milk, curd (yogurt), bananas, etc. A drink of peanut extract and water without sugar and with little or no honey is ideal food for this disease. It is absolutely necessary to have non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, in such a diet as it gives the bulk and help in management of glucose. Starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, corn, peas, and squash, should be consumed with moderation and care in diabetes management. It is advisable to pair them with proteins and healthy fats to slow down the absorption of carbohydrates and reduce blood sugar spikes. Portion sizes should be carefully monitored to avoid excessive carbohydrate intake in a single meal. For instance, a serving of 1/2 cup of starchy vegetables can be balanced with a lean protein source and non-starchy vegetables to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
