Home Remedies for Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects close to 20 million people in the United States itself. The condition leads to dramatic swings in the blood sugar levels, which can cause symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, sweating, unconsciousness (low blood sugar) and weakness, excessive thirst, and labored breathing (high blood sugar). For a diabetic, maintaining an ideal blood sugar level becomes a daily challenge. In healthy people, the pancreases produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body’s cells absorb glucose. Glucose itself is a sugar that is formed by the digestion of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are essential for proper brain function functioning and is the energy source for every cell in the body.
Type 2 Diabetes Natural Remedies
In diabetes, the production of insulin is disturbed or stopped. As a result, the cells lose out on energy, while the precious glucose stays in the blood until it is expelled through the urine. There are two kinds of diabetes, Type I (insulin dependent) and Type II (adult-onset).About ten percent of patients have Type I diabetes, which requires insulin injections on a daily basis, while those with Type II can control the sugar levels with lifestyle and dietary changes.
Diabetes and Natural Remedies
The best remedy for diabetes is regular exercise, which has been shown to improve the body’s ability to use glucose for cellular energy. Maintaining a fit, healthy body also helps in boosting the immune system, thereby reducing the risk of developing diabetes-related complications. Oral hygiene is also important, since high sugar levels benefit the bacteria in the teeth and accelerate tooth decay and gum disease. When it comes to the diet, experts advise eating small, regular meals through the day. This helps to avoid any sudden spikes or falls in sugar levels. Certain foods are also known to help deal with diabetes. A popular choice is bitter gourd (or bitter melon). It has natural ingredients such as charantin, a hypoglycemic agent composed of mixed steroids that helps to reduce blood sugar levels, and momordica, which contains a polypeptide similar to insulin. Patients are advised to drink one glass of fresh bitter gourd juice on an empty stomach each morning. Bitter gourd is also available in powdered form, which can be mixed with water or added to regular meals. Cinnamon may also help diabetics, since it appears to reverse appetite loss and regulates digestion. Onions and garlic are also recommended, since they have ingredients such as allyl propyl disulphide and diallyl disulphide oxide, which help to regulate blood sugar levels. Foods that are processed, fatty, high in salt, or contain processed sugars should be avoided.
