Insulin Resistance & Pre Diabetes Treatment By Herbal Remedies
ABSTRACT
Insulin is a hormone which is made by pancreas that helps glucose in blood enter cells in muscles, fat, liver where it uses energy. But in insulin resistance cells of muscles, fat, liver doesn’t respond to insulin and cant take glucose from blood. Insulin resistance can be temporary, chronic and sometimes treatable. Pre diabetic means blood glucose levels are higher than normal, if left untreated a person might suffer from diabetes 2. This disease occurs when the body doesn’t make the hormone insulin so it causes too much glucose to build up in the blood and it would be harmful to the body. Further we are going to discuss its causes, symptoms, and its ayurvedic aspect of this disease and certain precautions in pre diabetic stage.
INTRODUCTION
Insulin resistance can be temporary and chronic. But with the passage of time chronic insulin resistance can further lead to prediabetes and then to type 2 diabetes if not treated on time. Prediabetes can lead to diabetes (type2) which is the most common type in the pancreas. It doesn’t make enough insulin or the body doesn’t use insulin resulting in high blood glucose level. Several genetic and lifestyle factors lead to insulin resistance. Under normal circumstances body breaks down food into glucose and this glucose enter blood which give signal to pancreas to release insulin, this insulin help glucose in blood to enter muscle, fat and cells so uses energy, when glucose enter cells and level decreases in blood signal pancreas to stop producing insulin but some reasons does not respond to insulin and doesn’t take glucose causes resistance to insulin. As they become resistant to insulin, elevating blood glucose level leads to prediabetic stage.
WHO IS LIKELY TO DEVELOP INSULIN RESISTANCE AND PRE DIABETIC
- Overweight
- Physical inactivity
- High blood pressure and cholesterol level
- Heart disease
- Gestational diabetes
- PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome)
- Hormonal disorders (Cushing syndrome)
- Certain medicines such as glucocorticoids, medicines related to HIV
- Sleep problems (sleep apnea)
CAUSES
- Excess weight – Visceral fat is the main cause of insulin resistance, which further leads to fatty liver disease.
- Physical inactivity- Inactivity and sedentary lifestyles is associated with weight gain which further causes insulin resistance and then lead to prediabetes stage
- Diet- High carbohydrate diet and saturated fats are linked to insulin resistance as the body digests highly processed food very quickly which spikes blood sugar and puts extra stress on pancreas to produce a lot of insulin and overtime insulin resistance.
- Hormone disorders-
- Cushing syndrome– extra cortisol in the body regulates the blood sugar and turns food into energy. Excess cortisol affect insulin and causes insulin resistance
- Acromegaly– High level of growth hormone causes increased production of glucose leading to insulin resistance
- Type A insulin resistance syndrome- Insulin resistance impairs blood sugar regulation and further it leads to diabetes.
- Hypothyroidism- In hypothyroidism it slows down the glucose metabolism leading to insulin resistance.
SYMPTOMS
- People with prediabetic usually have darkened armpit on back and sides known as acanthosis nigricans.
- Increased thirst
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Frequent urination
- Tingling in feet and hands
- Unintended weight loss
DIAGNOSIS
- Medical history
- Family history
- Physical examination
- Tests-
- Fasting plasma glucose
- Oral glucose tolerance test
- Hemoglobin A1C Test
TREATMENT
- Eating a healthy diet- one must take whole food which includes more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and lean poultry. Drink water more than sweetened drinks.
- Regular exercise- 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least for 5 times a week which include swimming, riding a bike, brisk walking.
- Lower blood pressure
- Decrease triglyceride and LDL (bad cholesterol level)
- Lower blood glucose level
- Stop smoking
- Take rich fiber diet
- Losing weight
PRECAUTION IN PRE DIABETIC STAGE
- Excessive sleep
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive consumption of curd and its preparation
- Excessive consumption of milk
- Jaggery
- Heavy food
- High alcohol intake
- Avoid using grains such as ragi, rice, and wheat which are newly cultivated.
AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT
In ayurveda it is well known as madhumeha in which urine is sweet like honey. The essence of dhatu and immunity spreads to whole body which is clear, frothy, thick and cold but in madhumeha there is imbalancing between doshas mainly kapha and pitta dosha is associated with vata dosha, which blocks the channels of media and mamsa dhatu. Due to this obstruction it transfers sweet ojas to astringent and sweet as honey in urine results in madhumeha. When meda (fat), Mamsa (flesh), fluids of the body, and kapha enters the bladder causes diabetes.
CAUSES
- Stress
- Grief
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Jaggery
- Carbohydrate rich food
- Improper diet
- Flesh of animals living in marshy areas
- Long standing illness
- Inherited factor
PURVAROOPA
- Excess sweating
- Excess body odor
- Malaise
- Vision problems
- Coated tongue
- Heaviness in body
- Brittle hair, nail growth
- Excessive hair growth
- Burning sensation
- Urine attracts ants
- White discoloration of urine
- Bad breath
- Fatigueness
Clinical Features
- Turbid urine
- Pallor of body
- Debility
- Bad body odour
- Loss of sexual urge
- Dryness of body
- Emaciation
SYMPTOMS
- Unexplained weight loss
- Irritability
- Nerve pain
- Recurring infections
- Slow healing of wounds, cut.
- Numbness in hand
- There are 3 P-
- POLYURIA (frequent urine) due to increased blood glucose level, the kidney produces more urine.
- POLYDIPSIA (increase thirst) increased glucose in body causes dehydration so causes dry mouth. Increase in urination due to excess glucose entering kidney tubules so increased water in tubules
- POLYPHAGIA (increased appetite) Glucose cannot enter cells to use for energy due to low insulin, as the body cannot convert glucose to energy. Eating more will contribute to high sugar levels.
COMPLICATION
- Loss of sleep
- Body ache
- Regurgitation
- Cough
- Dyspnea
- Constipation
- Shivering
TREATMENT
- In obese patients or kapha body type patient de-nourishment therapy is given known as Apatarpan Chikitsa.
- In lean patients or vata pitta body type patient nourishment therapy is given known as Santarpan Chikitsa.
Apatarpan Chikitsa- is provided in obese and healthy patients. In this there is elimination of toxins is done by various exercises, fasting therapy, panchkarma (emesis, purgation, nasya, enema).
Santarpan Chikitsa – In the patient who is chronically ill and has low immunity and patient who are underweight ,this prevents further damage and enhanced healing and repair by oil massage, anuvasana basti.
HERBS USEFUL IN PREDIABETIC PATIENT AND INSULIN RESISTANCE PATIENT
1. TURMERIC
Turmeric has an active ingredient curcumin (Curcuma longa) as it decreases the glucose level in blood. As it helps to reduce inflammation and stress, it plays an important role in diabetes.
2. AMLA
Amla (Emblica officinalis) is an effective traditional remedy for pancreatitis. Insulin which is produced by pancreas checks the level of sugar level , however when pancreas gets inflamed it causes pancreatitis which increases the high blood sugar level so by taking amla it controls pancreatitis and balances blood sugar levels. Amla has vitamin c which is a powerful antioxidant.
3. FENUGREEK SEEDS
It helps to lower the glucose level, and in urinary tract disorders. It balances the kapha dosha so effectively in asthma, chest congestion. Fenugreek improves the digestive fire. Fenugreek seed has fiber which slows down the digestion and helps the body in absorption of sugar and carbohydrates. It is beneficial in breastfeeding mothers so it increases the production of breast milk, as breast milk is the best source of nutrition to new born babies.
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CONCLUSION
Insulin is a hormone which is made by pancreas that helps glucose in blood enter cells in muscles, fat, liver where it uses energy. But in insulin resistance cells of muscles, fat, liver doesn’t respond to insulin and cant take glucose from blood. Insulin resistance can be temporary, chronic and sometimes treatable. Pre diabetic means blood glucose levels are higher than normal, if left untreated a person might suffer from diabetes 2. So here we discussed many herbs which are useful in treatment of prediabetic patients and in insulin resistance patients which provide good relief to patients without any side effects.
