Diabeets: symptoms, causes, treatment

Summary:

Diabeets mellitus is a nutritional disorders, characterized by an abnormally elevated level of

blood glucose and by the excretion of the excess glucose in the urine.

Keywords:

Diabeets, nutritional disorders, blood glucose, urine

Article Body:

<p>Diabeets  mellitus is a nutritional disorders, characterized by an abnormally elevated  level of<br />

  blood  glucose and by the excretion of the excess glucose in the urine. It results  from an absolute<br />

  or  relative lack of insulin which leads to abnormalities in carbohydrate  metabolism as well as in<br />

  the  metabolism of protein and fat.<br />

  Diabeets  is a disease known to the medical world since time immemorial. Its incidence is  ,<br />

  however,  much higher at present than ever in the past. This is especially true in case  of more<br />

  advanced  countries of the world due to widespread affluence and more generous food  supply.<br />

  The most  commonly-used screening tests are the determination of the fasting blood  glucose<br />

  level and  the two-hour postprandial, that is after a meal. The normal fasting blood sugar  content<br />

  is 80 to  120 mg. per 100 ml. of blood and this can go up to a level of 180 mg. per 100  ml. of<br />

  blood two  hours after meals. Anything above these norms can be termed diabetic levels.<br />

  Diabeets  occurs in all age groups, from young infants to the elderly. The greatest  incidence<br />

  occurs in  middle or older aged persons. It is estimated that 80 to 85 per cent of all  individuals<br />

  with  Diabeets mellitus are 45 years of age or older.<br />

  <strong><em>Symptoms</em></strong><br />

  The word  Diabeets is derived from the Greek word meaning &quot;to siphon to pass  through&quot;, and<br />

  mellitus  comes from the Latin word &quot;honey&quot;. Thus two characteristic symptoms,  namely, copious<br />

  urination  and glucose in the urine give the name to the disease. The normal volume of  urine<br />

  passed  daily is about one and a half litres. The urine is of a pale colour, has an  acidic reaction<br />

  and  sweetish odour. The quantity of sugar present in it varies from one-and-quarter  decigram to<br />

  two  and-a-half grams the total per day in many cases reaching as much as one kg in  15 litres of<br />

  urine.<br />

  A  diabetic feels hungry and thirsty most of the time, does not put on weight,  though he eats<br />

  every now  and then, and gets tired easily, both physically and mentally. He looks pale,  may<br />

  suffer  from anaemia, constipation, intense itching around the genital organs,  palpitations and<br />

  general  weakness. He feels drowsy and has a lower sex urge than a normal person.<br />

  <strong><em>Causes</em></strong><br />

  Diabeets  has been described by most biological doctors as a &quot;prosperity&quot;  disease, primarily<br />

  caused by  systematic overeating and consequent obesity. Not only the overeating of sugar  and<br />

  refined  carbohydrate but also of proteins and fats, which are transformed into sugar if  taken in<br />

  excess,  is harmful and may result in Diabeets. Too much food taxes the pancreas and  eventually<br />

  paralyses  its normal activity. It has been estimated that the incidence of Diabeets is  four times<br />

  higher in  persons of moderate obesity and 30 times higher in persons of severe obesity.<br />

  Grief,  worry and anxiety also have a deep influence on the metabolism and may cause  sugar to<br />

  appear in  the urine. The disease may be associated with some other grave organic  disorders<br />

  like  cancer, tuberculosis and cerebral disease. Heredity is also a major factor in  the development<br />

  of the  disease. It has been rightly said, &quot; Heredity is like a cannon and obesity  pulls the trigger.&quot;<br />

  <strong><em>Treatment</em></strong><br />

  Any  successful method of Diabeets treatment should aim at removal of the actual  cause of the<br />

  disease  and building up of the whole health-level of the patient. Diet plays a vital  role in such a<br />

  treatment.  The primary dietary consideration for a diabetic patient is that he should be a  strict<br />

  lacto-vegetarian  and take a low-calorie, low-fat, alkaline diet of high quality natural foods.  Fruits,<br />

  nuts and  vegetables, whole meal bread and dairy products form a good diet for the  diabetic.<br />

  These  foods are best eaten in as dry a condition as possible to ensure thorough  salivation<br />

  during  the first part of the process of digestion.<br />

  Cooked  starchy foods should be avoided as in the process of cooking the cellulose  envelops of<br />

  the  starch granules burst and consequently, the starch is far too easily absorbed  in the system.<br />

  The  excess absorbed has to be got rid of by the kidneys and appears as sugar in the  urine. With<br />

  raw  starchy foods, however, the saliva and digestive juices in the small intestine  regulate the<br />

  quantities  required to be changed into sugar for the bodyís needs. The unused and  undigested<br />

  portion  of raw starchy foods does not become injurious to the system, as it does not  readily<br />

  ferment.<br />

  The  diabetic should not be afraid to eat fresh fruits and vegetables which contain  sugar and<br />

  starch.  Fresh fruits contain sugar fructose, which does not need insulin for its  metabolism and is<br />

  well  tolerated by diabetics. Fats and oils should be taken sparingly, for they are  apt to lower the<br />

  tolerance  for proteins and starches. Emphasis should be on raw foods as they stimulate  and<br />

  increase  insulin production. For protein, home- made cottage cheese, various forms of  soured<br />

  milks and  nuts are best. The patient should avoid overeating and take four or five small  meals a<br />

  day  rather than three large ones.<br />

  The  following diet should serve as a guideline.<br />

  <strong>Upon  arising : </strong>A glass of lukewarm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice.<br />

  <strong>Breakfast  : </strong>Any fresh fruit with the exception of bananas, soaked prunes, a  small quantity of<br />

  whole  meal bread with butter and fresh milk.<br />

  <strong>Lunch : </strong>Steamed or lightly cooked green vegetables such as cauliflower,  cabbage, tomatoes,<br />

  spinach,  turnip, asparagus and mushrooms, two or three whole wheat chapatis according to<br />

  appetite  and a glass of butter-milk or curd.<br />

  <strong>Mid-afternoon  : </strong>A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice.<br />

  <strong>Dinner  : </strong>A large bowl of salad made up of all the raw vegetables in season.  The salad may be<br />

  followed  by a hot course, if desired, and fresh home-made cottage cheese.<br />

  <strong>Bedtime  Snack : </strong>A glass of fresh milk.<br />

  Flesh  foods find no place in this regimen, for they increase the toxaemic condition  underlying the<br />

  diabetic  state and reduce the sugar tolerance. On the other hand, a non-stimulating  vegetarian<br />

  diet,  especially one made up of raw foods, promotes and increases sugar tolerance.<br />

  Celery,  cucumbers, string beans, onion and garlic are especiallybeneficial. String bean  pod tea<br />

  is an  excellent natural substitute for insulin and highly beneficial in Diabeets. The  skin of the<br />

  pods of  green beans are extremely rich in silica and certain hormone substances which  are<br />

  closely  related to insulin. One cup of string bean tea is equal to one unit of insulin.  Cucumbers<br />

  contain a  hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin. Onion and  garlic<br />

  have  proved beneficial in reducing blood sugar in Diabeets.<br />

  Recent  scientific investigations have established that bitter gourd (karela) is highly  beneficial in<br />

  the  treatment of Diabeets. It contains an insulin-like principle, known as  plant-insulin which has<br />

  been  found effective in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. It should,  therefore, be<br />

  included  liberally in the diet of the diabetic. For better results, the diabetic should  take the juice<br />

  of about  4 or 5 fruits every morning on an empty stomach. The seeds of bitter gourd can  be<br />

  added to  food in a powdered form. Diabetics can also use bitter gourd in the form of  decoction<br />

  by  boiling the pieces in water or in the form of dry powder.<br />

  Another  effective home remedy is jambul fruit known as jamun in the vernacular. It is  regarded in<br />

  traditional  medicine as a specific against Diabeets because of its effect on the pancreas.  The<br />

  fruits as  such, the seeds and fruit juice are all useful in the treatment of this  disease. The seeds<br />

  contain a  glucoside ëjambolineí which is believed to have power to check the pathological<br />

  conversion  of starch into sugar in cases of increased production of glucose. They should  be<br />

  dried and  powdered. This powder should be taken mixed in milk , curd or water.<br />

  The  patient should avoid tea, coffee and cocoa because of their adverse influence  on the<br />

  digestive  tract. Other foods which should be avoided are white bread, white flour  products, sugar<br />

  tinned  fruits, sweets, chocolates, pastries, pies, puddings, refined cereals and  alcoholic drinks.<br />

  The most  important nutrient in the treatment of Diabeets is manganese which is vital in  the<br />

  production  of natural insulin. It is found in citrus fruits, in the outer covering of  nuts, grains and in<br />

  the green leaves of  edible plants. Other nutrients of special value are zinc, B complex vitamins<br />

  and poly-unsaturated  fatty acids.<br />

  Exercise is also an  important factor in the treatment of Diabeets. Light games, jogging and<br />

  swimming are  recommended. Yogic asanas such as bhujangasana, shalabhasana,<br />

  dhanurasana,  paschimottanasana, sarvangasna, halasana, ardha-matsyendrasana and<br />

  shavasana, yogic  krisyas like jalneti and kunajl and pranayamas such as kapalbhati,<br />

  anuloma-viloma and  ujjai are highly beneficial.<br />

  Hydrotherapy and  colonic irrigations form a very important part of treatment. The colon should<br />

  be thoroughly  cleansed every second day or so, until the bowel discharge assumes normal<br />

  characteristics.  Bathing in cold water greatly increases the circulation and enhances the  capacity<br />

  of the muscles to  utilise sugar.<br />

  The diabetic patient  should eliminate minor worries from his daily life. He must endeavor to be<br />

  more easy-going and  should not get unduly worked up by the stress and strain of life. </p>