As mentioned Diabetes Mellitus and its complications amounting to the second major causes of death in developing countries like India.

Today, I will be highlighting more on diabetes and its complications:
Diabetes Mellitus is defined as increase, in blood sugar readings above the normal range, clinically expressed in the form of sudden loss of weight, increase in appetite, increase in thirst for water and frequent urination in the night, as well as in the day.

Normal range for Fasting Blood Sugar…80 to 110 mg/dl
Post Prandial (post lunch)…100 to 140 mg/dl

Diabetes is of two types:

1. Diabetes is of two types:
2. Late onset or adult onset (type 2)

Type 1: Diabetes is generally detected in early childhood before 10 years of age and is due to absence, or no insulin in the body of the child. These children have to be put on inj. Insulin to prevent any complications like Ketoacidosis or diabetic coma.

Type 2: Diabetes develops due to lack of or, insensitiveness to insulin, which is secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas. In fact, the chance of developing diabetes in late life is mainly due to excessive stress and strain of day life. Obesity, improper eating habits and lack of exercise. Person with history of diabetes in parents have higher incidence. As a rule, every person crossing 40 years, should check their sugar level once a year, to detect a possibility of diabetes.

Another type of diabetes known as Gestational Diabetes or Pregnancy induced Diabetes, occurs generally during the 6th or 7th months of pregnancy. It should be a general trend to do a check of sugars (glucose tolerance test) during the 6th month of pregnancy is the maximum. Risk of diabetes in pregnancy increases with advanced age of person, obesity, history of diabetes in family, early large baby delivered at birth, etc. all patients having gestational diabetes have much higher risks of developing type 2 or adult onset of diabetes in 15 years time. Some women may even develop insulin dependent or type 1 diabetes.

Why is it important to detect and treat diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder of sugar metabolism. Early detection and proper treatment would help the individual to live a quality life without any immediate or delayed complications.

What are the immediate and late complications of diabetes ?

The immediate or acute complications of diabetes are Hypoglycemia (low sugar) hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, etc.

The late or chronic complications are Diabetic Retinopathy (dimness of vision), Nephropathy (kidney damage), heart disease (heart attacks), neuropathy and strokes (paralysis).

How can you prevent these complications?

Keep your levels under control by ADEQUATE AND PROPER DIET, EXERCISE AND PROPER MEDICATIONS.

What is proper diet for Diabetes?

A diet should have adequate proteins, carbohydrates and calories. Do not eat direct sweets, chocolates and sugars. Eat small quantity meals at 4 to 5 hours intervals. Avoid heavy meals at any cost.

What is the exercise you should follow ?

A brisk walk for 30 minutes everyday should be adequate. Avoid exertion and heavy exercise.

What is the role of medications in diabetic control ?

The medicines given in Diabetes are meant not just to control sugar levels but to give quantity life to the individual and to prevent future complications.

What is the role of Homeopathy in the management of Diabetic patients ?

Most of the patients coming to Homoeopathy clinics feel that the medicines being sweet will increase their diabetes. It is not true.

Homoeopathic medicines, help to strengthen the immune system and reduces stress in a person which helps the patients to cope up well. This medicine stimulates the beta cells of the pancreas, thereby improving the blood sugar reading. The person on homoeopathic medication, improves overall, along with the improvement in diabetes.

Will the meidicne,s like inj. Insulin, oral tablets be stopped when the patients take simultaneous homoeopathic medicines?

No. initially, most of the diabetic medicines will continue, till the satisfactory response is seen in the patient in terms of sugar reading, general sense of well being, sleep, etc. once a good response is seen, gradually the oral tablets as well as in inj. Insulin will be reduced over a period of time.

What are the benefits of homoeopathic medicines in treating diabetes over traditional Modern medicines?

Homoeopathic medicines are vital energies, which work at the deepest level of the life force. They work at the root cause of the disease thereby preventing further progress of diabetes and its complications.

So, a message to all diabetic patients, as well as those who have a history of diabetes in their families:
Consult a good homoeopathic physician, in addition to your regular diabetologist as both together, will be able to give you a quality or long life to live without any major complications.
Indeed a sweet pill can help fight against the sweetness in your body, to keep you in sweet health.

Dr. John D Rodrigues, Classical Homoeopath is on the Professional Committee of the Health Promotion Trust and can be contacted on 9821173894 /55228505.