Diet Cure for Diabetes - Home remedies, symptom, cause, treatment of Diabetes

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a nutritional disorder, characterised by an abnormally elevated level of blood glucose and by the excretion of the excess glucose in the urine. It results from an absolute or relative lack of insulin which leads to abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism as well as in the metabolism of protein and fat.

Diabetes is a disease known to the medical world since time immemorial. Its incidence is, however, much higher at present than ever in the past. This is especially true in case of more advanced countries of the world due to widespread affluence and more generous food supply.

What are the symptom of Diabetes?

The word diabetes is derived from the Greek word meaning "to siphon ; to pass through," and mellitus comes from the Latin word "honey". Thus two characteristic symptoms , namely, copious urination and glucose in the urine give the name to the disease. The normal volume of urine passed daily is about three pints, but in the diabetic condition it can vary from eight to forty pints. The urine is of a pale colour, has an acidic reaction and sweetish odour. The quantity of sugar present in it varies from two to forty grams per ounce, the total per day in many cases reaching as much as two lbs. in 30 pints of urine.

A diabetic feels hungry and thirsty most of the time, does not put on weight, though he eats every now and then, and gets tired easily, both physically and mentally. He looks pale, may suffer from anaemia, constipation, intense itching around the genital organs, palpitations and general weakness. He feels drowsy and has a lower sex urge than a normal person.

What are the causes of Diabetes?

Diabetes has been described by most biological doctors as a "prosperity: disease, primary caused by systematic overeating and consequent obesity. Not only is the overeating of sugar and refined carbohydrates harmful but also of proteins and fats, which are transformed into sugar if taken in excess and may result in diabetes. Too much food taxes the pancreas and eventually paralyses its normal activity. It has been estimated that the incidence of diabetes is four times higher in persons of moderate obesity and 30 times higher in persons of severe obesity.

Dietary Treatment of Diabetes and home remedies

Any successful method of diabetes treatment should aim at removing the actual cause of the disease and building up the entire health-level of the patient. Diet therapy is the basis of such a treatment. The primary dietary consideration for a diabetic patient is that he should be strict lacto-vegetarian and take a low-caloric, low-fast, alkaline diet of high quality, natural foods. Fruits, nuts and vegetables, whole meal bread and dairy products form a good diet for the diabetic. These foods are best eaten in as dry a condition as possible to ensure thorough ensalvation during the first part of the process of digestion.

Cooked starchy foods should be avoided as in the process of cooking the cellulose envelops of the starch granules burst and consequently the starch is far too easily absorbed in the system. The excess absorbed has to be got rid of by the kidneys and appears as sugar in the urine. With raw starchy foods, however, the saliva and digestive juices in the small intestine regulate the quantities required to be changed into sugar for the body's needs. The unused and undigested portion of raw starchy foods does not become injurious to the system, as it does not readily ferment.

Flesh foods find no place in this regime, for they increase the toxaemic condition underlying the diabetic state and reduce the sugar tolerance. On the other hand, a non-stimulating vegetarian diet, especially one made up of raw foods, promotes and increases sugar tolerance. Celery, cucumbers, string beans, onion and garlic are especially beneficial. Cucumbers contain a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin. Garlic has proved beneficial in reducing blood sugar in diabetes.

Recent scientific investigations have established that bitter gourd (karela) is highly beneficial in the treatment of diabetes : It contains an insulin -like principle, known as plant-insulin which has been found effective in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. The diabetic patient should take the juice of three or four bitter gourds daily in between meals for positive results.

The patients should avoid tea, coffee and cocoa because of their adverse influence on the digestive tract. Other foods which should be avoided are white bread, white flour products, sugar, tinned fruits, sweets, chocolates, pastries, pies, puddings, refined cereals and alcoholic drinks.