How to Manage your Diabetes at Home with Diet and Home Remedies

Introduction

Diabetes is a widespread problem throughout the world. The elevated levels of sugar in the body is called diabetes. The two main types of diabetes are –Type 1 diabetes (also called juvenile diabetes) wherein the body does not produce insulin at all and Type 2 diabetes in which the body does not produce enough insulin or the insulin that is produced does not work properly to absorb sugar from the blood.

Type 1 diabetes

• Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and cannot be prevented. It can be controlled with a healthy lifestyle.

Type 2 diabetes

• Type 2 diabetes is mostly common in people ages 40 and above and is mainly caused due to insulin resistance.

Complications and Symptoms of Diabetes

• Having too little sugar in the blood stream which may be a result of any complication of medication show symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, headache, sweating, trembling and even loss of consciousness.
• Having too much sugar in the blood stream leads to weakness, fatigue, excessive thirst, difficulty in breathing and loss of consciousness.

How to Manage your Diabetes at Home with Diet and Home Remedies?

• Diabetes can be managed easily at home just by taking proper diet and following some simple home remedies.
• People with type 2 diabetes can control their disease with diet and exercise alone.
• The right nutrition can help control blood glucose levels, reduce blood cholesterol, maintain optimal blood weight and delay the complications of diabetes.

What Herbs To be Included in Your Diet?

Cinnamon

• Cinnamon is known to stimulate insulin activity and thus regulate blood sugar levels.
• It contains bioactive compounds like cinnamaldehyde, cinnamate, cinnamic acid and other essential oils that can help to fight and prevent diabetes.

How to Take?

• One can mix a half spoon of grounded cinnamon with warm water and take it one a day.
• You may also add it to the teas, smoothies and baked desserts.

Aloe Vera

• Aloe vera in the diet as it is known for its anti inflammatory properties and can control the blood sugar levels.
• It especially helps in lowering fasting blood glucose levels.
• It contains phytosterols that have anti hyperglycemic effects of type 2 diabetes.

How to Take?

• One can combine Aloe Vera with buttermilk and take it once a day.

Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon

• Bitter gourd or Bitter Melon also known as Karela in Hindi is an excellent vegetable to control diabetes.
• It contains charatin and momordicin and both these compounds helps in preventing diabetes.
• Karela tends to influence the glucose metabolism all over the body and not just of a particular organ.
• One can take bitter gourd juice in the morning to control blood glucose levels.

How to Take?

• One may include a dish prepared with bitter gourd daily in the diet for maximum benefit.

Vitamin C

• Intake of Vitamin C is highly recommended for a diabetic patient.

Citrus Fruits

• One needs to consume citrus fruits like oranges, blueberries, guava, Gooseberry (Amla) in particular.

Indian Gooseberry (Amla)

• Amla is a polyphenol rich fruit which protects the body from the oxidative properties of high blood sugar.
• Amla juice promotes the proper functioning of the pancreas, which initiates the production of insulin to lower blood sugar from the body.

How to Take?

• One may squeeze out the amla juice and mix it with water and drink it on an empty stomach every day.

Mango Leaves

• Consuming mango leaves help in reducing glucose absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thus lowering the sugar levels.
• The leaves are rich in Vitamin A, C and tannins.

How to Take?

• One may boil 15 fresh mango leaves in water, leave it overnight and consume first thing in the morning.

Bay leaves or TejPata

• Bay leaves or TejPata is also very effective in treating diabetes as they improve the insulin function.

How to Take?

• One may mix a half spoon of bay leaf with half spoon of turmeric in a tablespoon of aloe Vera gel and consume the mixture two times a day before lunch and dinner.

Curry Leaves

• Curry leaves also prevents the diabetes as they slow down the rate of starch to glucose breakdown.

Tusli or Basil

• Tusli or basil leaves and neem leaves are also very effective.

Fenugreek or Methi

• Fenugreek or Methi is another effective home remedy for managing diabetes.
• Fenugreek seeds can control diabetes, improve glucose tolerance and lower blood sugar levels.
• It stimulates the secretion of glucose dependent insulin.

How to Take?

• One may soak two spoons of fenugreek seeds in water overnight and drink the water along with seeds in the morning.
• Consuming flax seeds is also helpful.

Jamun or black plum (Indian Blackberry)

• Jamun or black plum (Indian Blackberry) helps a lot in controlling blood sugar levels as it contains anthocyanins, ellagic acid and hydrolyzable tannins antioxidants.
• The seeds of jamun have hypoglycemic effects, which means that they reduce blood sugar and urine sugar rapidly.

How to Take?

• One may consume the power of dried jamun seeds twice a day with plain water.

A Low Carb Diet

• It is recommended for the patients eat raw, cooked or roasted vegetables, which are low in carbohydrates like mushrooms, onions, eggplants, tomatoes, Brussel sprouts and low carb squashes like zucchini.
• One also needs to opt for low calorie drinks preferably water.
• One may put some lemon and cucumber in it for flavor and even add a cinnamon stick to it.

Increase Fiber Diet

• A diabetic patient needs to increase fiber in the diet to lower blood glucose. One needs to choose vegetables and fruits to stay healthy. Try legumes like dried beans, peas and lentils.

Tips for Diabetic Patients

• Good fat choices for diabetic patients include olive oil, avocado, and fatty fishes and protein choices include Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs and lean meats. One may take peanut butter on a celery stick for snacks.

Foods need to be Avoided

• The foods that need to be avoided completely by a diabetic patient are refined sugars as it spikes up the sugar in the blood, whole grains containing gluten as gluten can cause leaky gut, which may lead to inflammation, alcohol consumption as it damages the liver and pancreas, cow’s milk and all GMO foods.

Tips

• Exercise is the key to remain fit. One of the main reasons for type 2 diabetes is overweight. One needs to do exercise in some form or the other like yoga, walking, Zumba or playing sports. Breathing techniques or pranayama is also very beneficial for managing diabetes.

Quit Smoking

• Diabetes may lead to heart diseases, strokes, kidney failures, liver damage, blood vessel damage, infection, high blood pressure, limb amputation, and cataract if left untreated.