Title: Diabetes:symptoms,causes,treatment Word Count: 1653 Summary: Diabetes 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: diabetes, nutritional disorders, blood glucose, urine Article Body: <p>Diabetes 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 /> Diabetes 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 /> Diabetes 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 diabetes mellitus are 45 years of age or older.<br /> <strong><em>Symptoms</em></strong><br /> The word diabetes is derived from the Greek word meaning "to siphon to pass through", and<br /> mellitus comes from the Latin word "honey". 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 /> Diabetes has been described by most biological doctors as a "prosperity" 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 diabetes. Too much food taxes the pancreas and eventually<br /> paralyses its normal activity. It has been estimated that the incidence of diabetes 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, " Heredity is like a cannon and obesity pulls the trigger."<br /> <strong><em>Treatment</em></strong><br /> Any successful method of diabetes 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 body’s 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 diabetes. 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 diabetes.<br /> Recent scientific investigations have established that bitter gourd (karela) is highly beneficial in<br /> the treatment of diabetes. 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 diabetes 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 ‘jamboline’ 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 diabetes 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 diabetes. 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>