What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is also known as diabetes mellitus. It is a malady in which a person develops high blood glucose levels. High blood glucose levels may result from poor insulin production or when your body does not react properly to insulin.
Types of Diabetes
1. Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that causes your body to attack its own insulin-producing beta cells. It is also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, and early-onset diabetes because it is often diagnosed during one’s childhood.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
When the body loses its ability to react to the produced insulin, this condition is referred to as type 2 diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. This inability to react to insulin is known as insulin resistance.
3. Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is known to affect females during their pregnancy. Few women may see an increase in their blood sugar levels, and their bodies may be unable to produce enough insulin to transport all the glucose into their cells. This leads to progressively increasing levels of glucose.
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
- Frequent thirst
- Frequent hunger
- Blurred vision
- Wounds that don’t heal
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
Those with type 1 diabetes may be cranky and moody, while those with type 2 diabetes may feel insensitivity and a tingling sensation in their hands and feet.
Diabetes Blood Sugar Chart
Blood test levels for the diagnosis of diabetes and prediabetes:
| Fasting Plasma Glucose (mg/dl) | Oral Tolerance Test Glucose (mg/dl) | |
| Diabetes | 126 or above | 200 or above |
| Prediabetes | 100 to 125 | 140 to 199 |
| Normal | 99 or below | 139 or below |
Diabetes Diet Chart
Best Foods to Eat For Diabetes
- Banana: Bananas are rich with fiber, which is vital for people who have diabetes.
- Eggs: Eggs are rich in protein and can help decrease glucose absorption.
- Green Tea: The polyphenols in green tea help in regulating glucose, and also can help in managing as well as preventing diabetes.
- Grapes: Grapes are rich in fiber and can keep you satiated.
- Kale: Kale is high in fiber as well as antioxidants.
- Bitter Gourd: Bitter gourd has antidiabetic properties and can help in reducing your blood sugar levels.
- Oranges: Orange pulp is a great source of fiber.
- Kiwi: Kiwis are low in calories and rich in fiber, which can work wonders for diabetics.
- Raw Jackfruit: Raw jackfruit is a rich source of nutrition for diabetics, but ripe jackfruits can have the counter effect and must be avoided.
- Fenugreek Seeds: Fenugreek is known to reduce blood sugar levels.
- Indian Gooseberry/ Amla: Indian gooseberry is an amazing food for regulating your blood sugar levels as well as carbohydrate metabolism.
Foods to Avoid During Diabetes
- Sugary foods and drinks
- Honey
- Jaggery
- White bread, pasta, and rice
- Maple syrup
- Processed or canned foods
- Dry fruits
- Ripe jackfruit
Home Remedies to Cure Diabetes Naturally
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an aromatic spice that is widely used in several cuisines. Being a good source of antioxidants, it can help decrease oxidative stress, which plays a significant role in the development of diabetes.
How to Use: Add half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to a glass of warm water and drink this.
2. Curry Leaves
Curry leaves help control the insulin activity in your body and decrease the blood glucose levels. They also aid in weight loss and reduce the cholesterol levels, both of which help treat and prevent diabetes.
How to Use: You can chew 5-6 curry leaves daily or add them to your favorite dishes or salads.
3. Garlic
When fresh garlic is crushed, it releases a powerful antioxidant enzyme called allicin. Allicin, along with other garlic extracts, shows antidiabetic activities that can help in regulating diabetes effectively.
How to Use: You can add garlic while cooking your favorite dishes or you can swallow 1-2 garlic cloves every morning.
4. Ginger
Ginger, when taken daily, helps in decreasing the blood sugar levels and manages insulin response. This natural antidiabetic nature of ginger can be very helpful for those who have diabetes.
How to Use: You can make ginger tea. Take an inch of ginger and bring it to a boil with a cup of water, simmer for 5 minutes, strain, and allow it to cool and drink it immediately.
5. Bitter Gourd Juice
Bitter gourd is high in fiber and also contains charantin, an antidiabetic compound that has blood-glucose reducing properties.
How to Use: Blend a washed bitter gourd and extract its juice. Do not strain the juice as the fiber will be lost. To the blend, add one to two teaspoons of lemon juice and a pinch each of salt and pepper and drink this mixture.
6. Coffee
The daily intake of coffee can help decrease your risk of diabetes while helping regulate your present blood sugar levels as coffee has prophylactic effects.
How to Use: Add a tablespoon of coffee powder to a cup of hot water, stir well and drink.
7. Milk
Low-fat dairy helps decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes to a great extent. Thus, the daily intake of low-fat milk is one of the simplest ways to treat as well as prevent diabetes.
How to Use: Drink a glass of low-fat dairy milk every day.
8. Aloe Vera
Aloe juice consumption can help in managing your blood glucose levels.
How to Use: Drink a glass of unsweetened aloe vera juice every day.
Prevention Tips
- Keep a track of your weight. Lose weight if you are overweight.
- Increase your physical activities by doing exercises and yoga.
- Follow a balanced diet.
- Lessen your sugar intake.
Take Home Message
Your best bet in regulating diabetes is to keep your blood sugar levels under control. And that can be simply done by following the tips and remedies discussed in this article on a daily basis.
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