Managing Diabetes with Ayurvedic Lifestyle and Diet

Diabetes is a problem that has been growing rapidly worldwide due to the rise of unhealthy food and lifestyle. And living with this problem can be difficult since the precautions that need to be taken are to be followed lifelong. But does that mean people with diabetes should stop living?  Absolutely no. Rather a holistic approach can be followed by following Ayurveda, the ancient medical system of India being followed for centuries. 

In this blog, you will get to know more about diabetes management, the principles that are essential in Ayurveda and the ways in which a specific diet for diabetes patients can be implemented via Ayurveda.

Read More: Ayurvedic Strategies for Preventing Diabetes

The Key Principle: Doshas

The root cause of diabetes is an imbalance caused in doshas, the elements in our body and the dosha responsible for diabetes is Kapha dosha. Any imbalance in these elements causes disruption in energy flow and causes different diseases and one of them is diabetes. Having a better insight of these imbalances can give us a better idea of what kind of lifestyle and dietary modification can be done in order to maintain the balance.

Diet Recommendations as per Ayurveda

Whole Grains

Whole grains and natural foods are a must in order to be added to our daily diet as per Ayurveda. The foods that should be consumed should not contain chemical additives in order to control the blood sugar levels.  This will lead to an increase in consumption of essential minerals, vitamins as well as fiber and less consumption of unhealthy fats as well as sugary foods.  Nuts, seeds, vegetables, fresh fruits as well as whole grains are the baseline of a holistic diet that provides the body with all the essential nutrients and help to manage diabetes as well.

Complex carbohydrates that are derived from the whole grains give energy in a sustained manner that maintains the stability of sugar levels in blood.  is considered a magical super food for the people suffering from diabetes. Bajra and Jowar can also be added along with whole wheat.

In order to balance the level of Kapha dosha in the body,  sweet, oily and heavy food should be avoided and on the other hand foods that are bitter, drier and lighter should be added. For example, fenugreek, turmeric as well as bitter gourd are excellent foods and are often recommended for diabetes patients. 

Lean Protein

For adding protein to diet, horse gram, green gram and pigeon peas can be used whereas legumes, black gram and green peas should be consumed in restricted amounts. 

Herbs & Spices

There are a variety of Herbs that can be added to the diet for controlling blood sugar levels. The power of natural herbs has been harnessed in Ayurveda for centuries and time to time research has also shown that there are many spices and herbs having Anti-Diabetic properties that improve the response of the body towards insulin and the glucose metabolism too. These Herbs include holy basil, Ginger, fenugreek, cinnamon etc. 

Lifestyle Tips

Apart from taking care of our foods there are certain habits that we can follow in order for diabetes management and they are listed below:

Regular Workout

Try to take out at least 45 minutes to 1 hour daily for workout and this should be made a part of daily routine. You can engage in any kind of activity that you like according to body type and preference. You can opt for cardio, swimming, yoga work and strength training whatever suits you. Regular exercise improves the sensitivity of insulin and also helps to maintain a healthy body weight.

Stress Management and Mental Health

The sugar levels in blood are greatly impacted by stress. Different methods have been highlighted in Ayurveda that help to reduce stress like deep breathing exercises, meditation and engaging yourself and activities that support relaxation. Working on self care and mental health is equally important as Physical health. 

Good Sleep

Try to get at least 6 to 8 hours of sound sleep every night. Getting a sound sleep is important for the overall health of the body and recovery of our muscles and bones. This also leads to balance in hormones and metabolism along with taking care of overall well being.

The Key Takeaway

Diabetes management with Ayurveda can ease out the symptoms and the life as well if followed whole heartedly. Try to stick with basics and follow the approach listed here in the blog and see the results yourself.