Curated Paper 1

Curated Paper : Diabetes and Ayurveda

            Ayurveda is a term of Indian origin that refers to a popular form of holistic medicine. Holistic medicine is meant to treat not only the physical body, but also the mind and the spirit or soul. As with most medicine of its time, Ayurvedic physicians treated physical ailments with things like herbs and other concocted treatments. To aid with treatment of these physical ailments as well as to treat illnesses of the mind, these holistic doctors would often prescribe meditation. The practice of meditation is meant to bring awareness you one’s self with regards to mind and body. Many people today continue to use meditation as a means of stress relief in their day to day lives. Part of holistic medicine also focuses on ways of preventing illness.

            In Ayurvedic medicine, physicians made several suggestions regarding the prevention of sickness. The first of these “prescriptions” was to eat a colorful, flavorful diet. This refers particularly to fruits and vegetables. Different colored fruits and vegetables have different essential vitamins and minerals in varying levels. This leads into another pillar of preventative medicine called “digestive power.” This means exactly what it sounds like. People needed to keep their digestive systems strong if they wanted the rest of their bodies to remain healthy. Some ways that people could do this included drinking hot water with ginger throughout the day, eating in moderation, and eating more cooked foods than raw foods (raw foods are harder to digest). Ayurvedic medicine also had a rule called the Law of Least Effort. It was another way to keep the stress at bay. To provide an example of this, think of grass. It does not try to grow, it simply does. Sleep is also an important part of preventative medicine. Physicians recommend six to eight hours of restful sleep per night for most adults. During restful sleep, the body heals itself. The immune system is strengthened and the mind is put at ease as it processes the day’s events. Another part of holistic medicine that strengthens the mind and body is exercise. Ayurvedic physicians encouraged some daily, moderate exercise to keep illness away. However, you were not encouraged to do any type of exercise that made you extremely uncomfortable. Finally, being in tune with nature acted as the last important “prescription” in holistic medicine. This didn’t always necessarily mean being an outdoorsy person. It simply meant that needs and desires should not be in conflict. One should be in harmony, as nature is. The whole concept of Ayurveda can be melded with our knowledge and perceptions of the diseases our population faces today. One such condition is diabetes mellitus.

            Diabetes is a disease that affects a large percent of the world population. Most of those affected are over sixty-five years of age. There are two types of diabetes and they are referred to as Type 1and Type 2. Type 1 occurs when the beta cells in the pancreas cannot create and secrete insulin into the bloodstream. Type 2 occurs as a result of lifestyle choices. The body becomes insulin-resistant, so blood sugar levels are not as easily controlled. Regardless of what type of diabetes a patient is suffering from, the concept of Ayurveda may be able to benefit them if they incorporate its principle into their lives.

            The ayurvedic principles regarding a colorful diet, digestive power, and exercise could physically benefit many diabetics. Eating a lot of colorful vegetables and lean proteins could help regulate blood sugar levels and keep them within healthy ranges. However, as mentioned above, Ayurveda does not just focus on the physical body. It also heals the mind. One of the things that were discussed in class regarding the non-physical aspects of diabetes was the fact that many diabetic patients feel like healthcare providers are biased against them. This could be because many Type 2 diabetic patients are considered overweight or obese according to their BMI and they feel like their healthcare providers are judging them and blaming them for their illness. We, as current or future healthcare providers have a responsibility to withhold judgement and to help our patients to the best of our abilities physically as well as mentally. When you become a healthcare provider, you also become a part time therapist, whether that’s what you signed up for or not. Helping diabetic patients physically and mentally can provide them with better outcomes, which is something healthcare is always striving for.