Herbal Remedies Blog

Vegetables that help Diabetes Control

A vegetarian diet is a healthy choice for the people who are suffering with diabetes. There are many kinds of vegetarian diet. The vegetarian diets are based on vegetables, fruits, beans, grains, soybeans, seeds, nuts and lentils. All these items are low in calories, fats and less cholesterol. The decrease in the use of animal product serves many health advantages to diabetics. Vegetarians are less likely to have higher levels of cholesterol, being overweight and high levels of blood pressure. They also are less prone to suffer from diseases of blood and heart vessels. The people suffering from type 1 diabetes can reduce the dose of insulin by becoming a vegetarian. Those who are suffering with type 2 diabetes can reduce their weight which further leads to better control on glucose levels.

Generally vegetables are healthy for diabetes. But there are few vegetables that aid to heal the pancreatic role by controlling the level of glucose in blood. The vegetables that have been proved to prevent the onset and sometimes even reverse the diabetes are listed below.

Bitter Gourd

Bitter gourd is characteristically used like a traditional and folk medicine for treating diabetes. It is rich in many essential minerals and vitamins, specifically iron and vitamin B1, B2, and C. These vitamins are helpful for undernourished diabetics. This also helps in increasing the body resistance against different infections.
Bengal Gram

The experiments have proved the water extract of Bengal gram increases the use of glucose not only in diabetics but at the same time in the healthier people. The germinated bengal gram if taken with 1/4th glass of fresh juice of bitter gourd and a spoon of honey is favorable for treating person suffering with mild diabetes.

Groundnut

Eating daily a handful of groundnuts by diabetics not only prevents them from malnutrition but at the same time it also prevents the onset of vascular complications.

Soya, Lettuce and Tomato

Tomato lettuce and Soya are also good for diabetics of both types.

So from now on when you plan to cook, remember to add plenty of vegetables in your meal. This will not only improve the levels of blood glucose but at the same time are valuable for the overall health of diabetics. While cooking it is good to prefer steamed, grilled and boiled vegetables.

So go ahead and start consuming more leafy vegetables for enjoying a healthier and diabetes free life.

Diabetes is classified in two types; type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an outcome of an autoimmune disorder which is normally because of a viral attack on pancreas. In type 2 diabetes the cells performs an abnormal role and become resistant towards insulin. The result is they are unable to break glucose for producing energy. In both cases the diabetes is caused because of an increased level of sugar in blood and less amount of sugar in the cells of the body where it is needed. It type 1 diabetes there is an inadequate amount of insulin because the cells responsible for producing insulin get destroyed.

Following is a detailed list of signs of diabetes.

Frequent Trips to Restroom
If a person is suffering from diabetes he may feel that he is visiting the rest room more often. This is because diabetes has increased the level of glucose in blood. The glucose in the blood is raised either because of lack of insulin or because of the cells’ abnormality to use the insulin efficiently. Whatever the reason is the increased blood glucose level causes the kidneys to fail to hold glucose in the body. It draws some excessive water from nearby cells to dilute concentrated glucose and excrete it out of the body.

More Thirst
Pulling extra water from body cells to dilute the concentration of glucose and excrete it in the form of urine, result in repeated demand of water. The person feels thirsty and if not drink enough water he may lead to dehydration.

Weight Loss
Another symptom of diabetes is his weight loss, specifically in type 1 diabetics. The level of insulin decreases and cells become incapable to break down the glucose efficiently. The cells then has to use the reserves of fats and muscle tissue to release the energy required for body functioning. The weight loss seems gradual in type 2 diabetics because the speed of the cell that get resistant towards insulin is comparatively slow.

Fatigue and Tiredness
When the cells become unable to break down glucose because of the incidence of diabetes, the body gets starved because of lack of energy. Diabetics become easily fatigued and repeatedly experience the tendency to vomit.

Numbness In Hands And Feet
Diabetics often suffer from tingling sensation or numbness in legs, fingers and hands. This tingling and numbness is termed diabetic neuropathy. Increased level of glucose in blood damages the cells of the nerves. Type 2 diabetics are unable to detect this feeling at the earlier stage. The process can be reversed by effectively controlling the level of blood sugar.
The signs of diabetes also include dry and itchy skin, frequent wound infection and blurred vision. The person who is experiencing any of the above symptoms must visit the doctor for his check up immediately.

The aim of the diabetes treatment is to keep the blood glucose levels closer to normal in a safe way without disrupting any other body system. Further diabetes also increases the risk of cardiac disorders. Preventative measures for controlling cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels are also considered the vital part of diabetic treatment.

Diabetics should take great care of their daily routine. The care incorporates recording the levels of blood glucose, dietary limits and patterns, maintaining the weight, exercising regularly and keeping the stress under control. This sometimes includes taking some oral medications and providing insulin with the help of injection or pump.

Here we will learn some important ways of treating diabetes.

Physical Workout and Dietary Patterns
Some adjustments in eating pattern of the patients and increase in physical workout is one of the first steps towards the betterment of sugar levels. There are many health care centers where dieticians work with diabetics to design a dietary pattern that aid to control the blood glucose levels.

Insulin Therapy
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need multiple injections of insulin with the regular intervals daily. This is required to keep safe levels of insulin. Insulin is sometimes also prescribed to the patients of type 2 diabetes. Thanks to the advancement of technology which has substituted insulin injections with insulin pumps. The insulin pump is almost the size of a cell phone and is normally worn on the belt. Insulin is introduced in the pump with the help of a tube termed catheter. This tube is placed under the surface of the skin of the abdomen.

There are four types of insulin

1. Rapid-acting Insulin
2. Short-acting Insulin
3. Intermediate-acting Insulin
4. Long-acting Insulin

The type and the dose of insulin are determined by the health care provider. Normally it is not a fixed dose as it depends on many reasons like meal timings, body weight and exercising pattern and insulin produced by the human body.

Oral Medications – OHD
Sometimes the levels of blood glucose is high in the patients of type 2 diabetes even after eating healthy meals and exercising regularly. In this case some oral medicines in the shape of capsules are advised for controlling the level of glucose. These medicines have different mechanism of working. Some improve the use of insulin of the body, some increase the resistance of insulin, some reduce production of blood glucose, and some hinders absorption of blood glucose still some have some other roles to perform. Oral drugs are sometimes used in combination with insulin.

Natural or Herbal Treatment of Diabetes
Herbs like Karela, fenugreek, turmeric are famous for their glucose lowering capacities. Diabetics can also practice yogasana and pranayama for keeping the levels of blood glucose in the range. In Ayurveda, pills like harida kahand and arogyavardhini vati aid in controlling the level of blood glucose and raising the natural production of insulin.

It is good to consult doctor before changing the treatment regimen.