Bridging Ayurveda with Diabetes

     When I first looked into applying to medical schools, I had no idea that there were two different types: M.D. and D.O. This discovery led me to explore and learn what it means to be a holistic provider. I learned the significance of the connection between the body and mind. Since then, I've known that if I were to practice medicine, I would want to ensure that the mind would be included in the conversation. This holistic approach aligns closely with the principles of Ayurveda, an ancient healing system that offers valuable insights into maintaining overall health and preventing illness.

Upon initial research, we learn that Ayurveda is an ancient holistic approach to healing. It originated in India, and its main focus is to promote overall health by balancing the mind, body, and spirit.

I found it interesting that Ayurveda believes that disease would occur if there is an imbalance of doshas. These are the different energies that control the physiology of our body. When there is an imbalance of chemicals, hormones, and signals, the body will be more susceptible to disease because it is not ready to face it.

What I discovered is that I truly believe our body works in harmony with our mind, and it is all deeply affected by the environment. The way we talk to ourselves can affect our physical health. The way other people speak to us can affect our mental health, which then takes a toll on our physical health. I know that when I surround myself with people who show me love and kindness, I feel better physically than when I am around those who don't show me that same decency.

Our mind and body are constantly communicating with each other through various physiological pathways, and if one part is disrupted, it is bound to disrupt the other parts. Even our emotions can affect our bodies. Let's say I feel very stressed; my heart rate increases. There is a direct correlation between stress and my heart rate. Many people don't realize that having physical health starts with having a strong mind that can support the physical world. This means that to have good health, we have to look at the whole picture. We must remember the mind, body, and the spirit.

This holistic understanding of health aligns with Ayurveda's approach to diabetes, known as Madhumeha in traditional texts. Ayurveda has the perspective that diabetes is not just a metabolic disorder, but a manifestation of imbalances in the body's doshas, specifically Kapha dosha. According to Ayurvedic principles, the excessive consumption of heavy, sweet foods and a sedentary lifestyle(the modern American diet) leads to an accumulation of Kapha, disrupting the body's natural metabolic processes. This disruption affects blood sugar levels and the mind-body connection, potentially creating more stress and further impacting metabolic health. Ayurvedic treatments for diabetes, therefore, focus on restoring balance through dietary changes, herbal remedies, and lifestyle modifications that address both physical symptoms and mental well-being. By incorporating practices like yoga and meditation alongside traditional remedies, Ayurveda offers a comprehensive approach to managing diabetes that recognizes the intricate connections between mind, body, and spirit.

After taking a look around in my own life and in the places of healthcare that I surround myself with, there are so many people in my life who have diabetes, either type 1 or type 2. From what I have seen, diabetes (type 2) stems from the American lifestyle, which is both obvious and devastating.

One of my best friends spent some time in Italy and Austria because her family lives there. She has always said that the people in Europe would be astounded by the people in America because of the sheer size of Americans. They would be astounded by the concept of Costco or our food portions. Europeans do not face the same intensity of diabetes. We can see that it is the food that Americans eat and the way we live that has caused this epidemic of diabetes.

Not one of my classes thus far in my college career has looked at the pathways of diabetes. I was interested to see the specifics of the pathways. For type 2 diabetes, it begins with the body cells becoming less responsive to insulin, which helps the cells absorb glucose from the blood. As those cells don't absorb the glucose efficiently, that leads to blood sugar levels rising. Then the pancreas produces more insulin to attempt to lower blood sugar. Over time, the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas become overworked and stop working. This leads to the pancreas not being able to produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels. Then we can see chronic high blood sugar levels occurring, which leads us to diabetes symptoms, and if left untreated, the high blood sugar can damage the organs and tissues of the body. This pathway is specific to type 2 diabetes.

  Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, can be from a genetic predisposition, an environmental trigger, or an autoimmune attack. For some reason, most or all of the beta cells are destroyed, the pancreas can no longer produce sufficient insulin, and without insulin, glucose can't enter cells and builds up in the blood, causing blood sugar levels to rise significantly. Since type one onset very quickly, those diagnosed may require lifelong insulin therapy to manage their blood sugar levels.

Despite what happens in the body, this disease has a huge impact on our social world and society. What I found to be most interesting is that the American Diabetes Association came out with the statistic that the total estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes in 2012 was $245 billion, which includes $176 billion in direct medical costs and $69 billion in reduced productivity. We are collectively spending so much money on a disease that could be easily prevented by physical activity and basic wellness. However, for reasons so complex, our society chooses to spend money on treatments and not prevention.

Since 2012, the diabetes epidemic has gotten significantly worse. The total annual cost of diabetes in the US in 2022 was $412.9 billion, with direct medical costs being over 300 billion dollars and over 100 billion dollars in indirect costs. On a personal level, the average annual medical expenditure for people with diabetes is $19,736. People with diabetes tend to have 2.6 times higher medical expenditures than a person without diabetes. On a population level, about 1 in 4 healthcare dollars in the US is spent on caring for people with diabetes.

Diabetes comes from an imbalance in the human body. This concept is parallel to understanding Ayurveda. It is important to acknowledge that we need to create a balance in our lives so that our body doesn't overwork itself in any way. Eat healthy so that our blood sugar doesn't rise to the point where our beta cells can't work fast enough. Exercise so that our heart can function. Meditate to ease the mind. Sleep to rest. Learn to grow. There is so much that we must do; however, it is possible. It comes with discipline.

Discipline is another important concept to understand because discipline is what could prevent diabetes. By creating a society that knows what it needs to do to be healthy and actually works towards it, healthcare would look so different if instead of treating disease, we prevent disease. It will take a significant time to get there, but if we make the conscious effort to do so in our own lives, we can influence others to follow that path.

From what I understand, we need to emphasize prevention. We also need to improve access to care, and also not forget about focusing on early intervention. The best way to accomplish these things is to educate. This means funding public health and pushing for schools to teach the importance of physical activity and enforce it. This disease is a serious problem in our country, and we need to take action to help stop it. It quite literally has taken over healthcare, and we need to stop it from progressing.

When we address both the personal and societal costs of diabetes, we can work towards reducing its economic burden while improving the lives of those already affected by the disease. By integrating Ayurvedic principles with modern medical knowledge, we can create a more 

The integration of Ayurvedic principles with modern medical knowledge offers a comprehensive approach to addressing health issues like diabetes. By focusing on prevention, balance, and holistic well-being, we can create a healthcare system that not only treats diseases but also promotes overall health and wellness. This approach has the potential to significantly reduce the prevalence and impact of lifestyle-related diseases, ultimately leading to a healthier society.

As we move forward, it's crucial to remember that our health is not just about our physical body, but also our mind and spirit. By embracing this holistic view and incorporating the wisdom of ancient practices like Ayurveda alongside modern medical advancements, we can work towards a future where diseases like diabetes are prevented rather than just treated, and where overall wellness is the primary focus of our healthcare system