Diabetes and Ayurveda

Disease and everything about it can be, and usually is, a complex thing to not only treat but also to cure, which is normally the bigger hurdle. There are a lot of diseases in our vast, changing world and due to these circumstances, more and more will arise in the future. Many diseases we now face are treatable but few are curable. Medical researchers are constantly searching and trying to find ways to not just treat disease but a cure which in many cases is a lifelong pursuit and does not end in success. One of these diseases in specific, one that has become a nationwide issue here in the United States is diabetes. Diabetes has been around for a very long time and up to this point we have come up with a treatment in order to keep the individuals alive but not a cure. Obviously coming up with a cure is much harder than just treatment because there are so many different parts and pieces to the puzzle than just fixing nonfunctioning cells. Our bodies are not like a car where you can just swap out a worn-out part and everything works again. The body is much more intricate and temperamental than that. It requires not only acknowledging the problem at hand, but also looking at several other factors that could and most likely will be affected by trying to fix the problem. This ties into the idea of Ayurveda which in simple terms, is an ancient Indian practice where physicians approach treating/healing sick individuals via treating the whole person as a unit (mind, body, and spirit) not just specific parts of an individual that might be afflicted. Ayurveda is very interesting and I will return to this idea and practice later on.  

Diabetes has been a problem for a long time, especially in the United States. A statistic from the CDC says that U.S. went from only 1.6 million people diagnosed with diabetes in 1958 to 23.4 million in 2015 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Now we are up to about 37.7 million people that have been diagnosed with diabetes. Not only has the disease become more prevalent since the 50’s but it has jumped way up even since 2015. Along with the increase of diabetes cases, our government is spending billions and billions of dollars on the treatment of these individuals. Our government is already way in over their head in debt and this does not help.

On a similar note, Type 2 diabetes is, for the most part, preventable. It’s not like Type 1 where individuals are born with a deficiency or an autoimmune disease which is out of that individual’s control. Most people can avoid getting Type 2 diabetes by simply exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet. A pretty straight forward approach but with the direction our world is moving maybe not as straight forward as one might think. With more advanced technology and increase of fast-food joints, allows diabetes to creep into people’s lives. Don’t get me wrong, our technological advancements are influential and have been a key piece to new discoveries. All I am saying is that with the new conveniences we have, we still need make sure we keep up on our health. Reflecting back on the Ayurveda approach, keeping our whole unit healthy. Not just the mind and spirit, the body as well.

I have mentioned this idea of Ayurveda which is, as I mentioned before, an approach where the physician treats the sick individual as a unit, treating the mind, body, and spirit as one in order heal the sick individual. It is an ancient technique that started in India centuries ago and has been passed down from generation to generation. The effectiveness of the treatment is somewhat debatable and most medical websites tell people to consult a licensed doctor before receiving treatment. Although the validity Ayurveda is debatable, the idea of is what is fascinating. Treating the body as unit allows us to understand the interconnectedness of almost every system in our bodies. So, trying to alter of fix something that is not functioning properly, like the pancreas, is very hard because by altering a certain piece of the body or organ, this could have a cascading effect that could cause larger issues possibly damaging other systems. So, the idea of treating the body as a unit is very important and if more western medicine physicians adopted this idea into their practice, I feel like they would have a better understanding and could be more precise on treating their patients.

Although we haven’t found a cure for diabetes, researchers push on to reach the final break through. For Type 2 diabetes, researchers have found that it can actually be reversed. People who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes can get their beta cells working again by exercising regularly and eating healthier. Although the disease can be reversed, this is not a cure. The disease will only go into a remission state and could come back again at any time in that individual’s life, similar to cancer (Sherwood, 2022). Type 1 is not as hopeful. Scientists have tried many different avenues to cure the disease but there is always a cost that comes with the potential cure, which a lot of times is a suppressed immune system. Having a suppressed immune system can make one vulnerable to simple sicknesses we once didn’t give a second thought too. So, this is less than ideal. Although finding a cure for diabetes may seem impossible at times, I think pushing on in this endeavor will be well worth it not only to individuals who are suffering from this disease but also a massive financial burden lifted from the U.S. government.

 

 

 

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, January 24). The facts, stats, and impacts of diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/spotlights/diabetes-facts-stats.html

Sherwood, A. (2022, July 13). Can you reverse type 2 diabetes? WebMD. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/can-you-reverse-type-2-diabetes#:~:text=Although%20there's%20no%20cure%20for,diabetes%20is%20an%20ongoing%20disease.

The Relationship between Ayurveda, Metabolism and Microbiome

 

What does the word “Ayurveda” exactly mean? Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine. Ayurveda was original from India about 3000 years ago. The Indians people think that illness is because of imbalance of people’s bodies, so there would be stress, and illness appeared. So, the ayurveda encourages you to use some kind of ways like meditation to help your body to recover.

I think it is similar to yoga. They deal with balance of mind, body and soul. But, ayurveda was found earlier than yoga. Ayurveda is a way “improve” yourself, but it is not science. Ayurveda could let you practice yourself to make your body better and mental healthier, in order it can be related with metabolism and microbiome. In Ayurveda, metabolism system of the body is represented by the Pitta Dosha spoken as known as the fire component within the body. So, everything you are doing to keep the Pitta dosha in adjust, will guarantee you metabolism system remains vigorous. Ayurveda is also related to microbiome in our body, ayurveda has lots of formula and medicine to make benefits to microbiome. According to an article I read online called “The Microbiome in Health and Disease from the Perspective of Modern Medicine and Ayurveda”, showed that both ginger and an herbal preparation called Triphala can have advantageous impacts on the microbiome. Triphala comprises of three fruits: Emblica officinalis (Amalaki), Terminalia bellerica (Bibhitaki), and Terminalia chebula (Haritaki). It can make benefits to elimination (Wallace, 2020). I think this part of ayurveda is a little bit same with traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine is also a way to use herbal preparation to make benefits to your body.

I was surprised by the metabolic pathway that it is so complex, I think they are very easy previously, now I understand how complex they are, and there are some many reactions people could have. Diabetes is a disease about over glucose levels, it can be described as pandemic because of physical inactivity which can cause health, economic, environmental and social consequences. There are 2 types of diabetes, they are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes in a people, that people often look like thin or normal, but that people have diabetes, this is very rare, but it did. 90%-95% of diabetes in U.S are type 2 diabetes. Without appropriate levels of insulin, cells are not able to appropriately take-up and metabolize glucose, so glucose levels Can increase within the circulatory system. So, cells basically starve within the middle of bounty of sugars. And glucagon can send Indeed more sugar into the circulatory system. Diabetes can also cause a lot of diseases that related to eye, kidney, heart, brain and etc. I was surprised that drugs could cause type 1 diabetes. I think that is interesting. According to the leading causes of death in the U.S, diabetes is ranked No.7 cause of death in the U.S. I think we should exercise after watch the PowerPoint, lack of exercise could cause a lot of diseases like obesity, diabetes, cancer and etc. I noticed that the annual cost of a diabetes patient is 2.3 times higher than a normal patient. And, the data that surprised me is the population of diabetes patients increased 41% from 2007. But for diabetes patients to get good care in U.S. Diabetes could also cause a lot of diseases that related to diabetes, and they are also very expensive to take care of those kind of diseases, like ischemic stroke, neuropathy, and etc. These are the direct cost of diabetes, and there are also some indirect costs. Diabetes can also cause the short-term shortage of labor, if it is serious, or even lost labor due to death.

I think there is a relationship between low income, poor diets and high crime areas. Obesity is normal in families which live in those areas. Because they are lack of exercise and poor diet, they could get a lot of diseases and that could cost a lot to take care of them, so this is became a negative cycle. But diabetes patients need high-level treatment. Ayurveda suggests people to practice, to exercise, in order it can reduce the risk of getting diabetes. So, I think ayurveda is a useful way for diabetes.

Microbiome is all bacteria, viruses, fungi and etc. Not all microbiome is harmful to our human bodies, most of them are beneficial for our human bodies, like probiotics and lactobacillus, they are helpful to digestion system in order to help metabolism system. Ayurveda uses herbal preparation to help with microbiome in order to help metabolism system as I discussed above.

As a conclusion, the relationship between ayurveda, metabolism and microbiome are very close, any one of them could affect others. If we practice ayurveda, use ayurveda preparation, it could make benefits to metabolism system and microbiome which will also help metabolism. In a kind of view, ayurveda could make some benefits to diabetes.

 

Citation

Wallace, Robert Keith. “The Microbiome in Health and Disease from the Perspective of Modern Medicine and Ayurveda.” Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), MDPI, 11 Sept. 2020,            https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7559905/.

Ayurveda and Metabolism

Everything is connected. Living or dead, it makes no difference, everything is connected and a change in one area of your existence could greatly change the way you feel in another. Ayurveda is the practice of bringing everything in your life into balance. Ayurveda is the traditional Indian medicine (TIM) and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TIM and TCM are two of the longest-living traditions that are still in practice across the world today. Ayurveda utilizes over 1,500 herbal remedies to treat patients individually in regard to their: bio-identity, socio-economical status, biochemical and physiological conditions. Looking at these factors allows providers to customize their patient care and even help each individual avoid illnesses.

Ayurveda derives from two Sanskrit words, ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge), meaning that the literal translation of Ayurveda is the knowledge of life. The primary goal of Ayurvedic medicine is to follow the ancient script of Charaka Samhita which describes the primary objective of “protect(ing) the health of the healthy and to alleviate the disorders in the diseased condition.” When participating in Ayurveda, there are certain lifestyle accommodations that your provider may recommend you make in order to regain a balance between your body, spirit, mind and environment. Utilizing yoga, meditation, herbal remedies, massage therapy and certain dietary restrictions, providers are capable of returning your body to its innate state of balance, eliminating all impurities, reducing symptoms of sicknesses, decreasing stress, and increasing the immune system’s ability to fight diseases.

When trying to balance one’s life, Ayurvedic practitioners focus on the five basic elements that exist in the universe; fire, water, earth, air, and space. These basic elements combine in the human body to form three essential life forces; Vata dosha (air and space), Kapha dosha (earth and water), and Pitta dosha (water and fire). These three doshas comprise what every person is made of, and are hardly ever in balance from the start. Ayurvedic practitioners take into consideration these doshas, especially the strongest one present in each, and prepare a treatment plan that is specifically designed for the individual to bring their doshas back into balance. Typically, the goal of treatment is a cleansing process known as “panchakarma.” In the United States, there has been a recent increase in the number of licensed Chinese medical providers specializing in TCM, bringing the topic of Ayurveda and its effectiveness to the attention of many Americans.

While Ayurveda is considered a form of medicine that is equal to Western medicine in India, there is no true recognition or license in the United States. This form of treatment is gaining more approval in certain states and has even started being taught in some states. Ayurveda has had positive results for several people, especially when combined with our more conventional Western medicine. Some components of Ayurvedic medicine can be harmful if used improperly or without the supervision of properly trained Ayurvedic professionals and the consultation of your standard care provider. While this has been growing in the United States, there is still no regulation on the practice of Ayurveda as a medical treatment and many of the supplements have been banned by the FDA, making many hesitant to believe in this tradition of healing that has lasted over 3,000 years.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body loses control over glucose levels, in other words, the body loses its natural state of hormonal balance leading to spiraling effects throughout the rest of the individual’s life. There are two variations of diabetes, type one and type two. Type one is caused by genetics and often presents in younger individuals. Type two is typically brought on later in life, due to diet and activity levels. As we look at diabetes from an Ayurveda perspective, there are clearly areas of one’s life that can directly impact the balance of others.

Several types of metabolic disorders can be inherited from one's parents. Here are a few of the common diseases; Gaucher disease, Hemochromatosis, Maple syrup urine disease, Mitochondrial disease, Tay-Sachs disease, Wilson's disease, and Type I Diabetes. Gaucher disease causes bone pain, anemia, enlarged organs, bloated abdomen, bruising, bleeding problems, and could lead to severe brain damage and death. Gaucher disease has three forms, the most common in America being type 1, and is sometimes treatable. Hemochromatosis is a disease that causes your body to store mass amounts of iron which can cause damage to your heart, liver, and pancreas. Hemochromatosis cannot be prevented but can be treated and managed to slow organ damage. Maple syrup urine disease inhibited the body from breaking down three amino acids; leucine, isoleucine and valine. This leads to a buildup of these amino acids in the body and will reach a toxic level, causing a wide range of physical and intellectual disabilities. Mitochondrial disease is a disorder that occurs when a cell's mitochondria are unable to produce a sufficient amount of energy for the body to function properly. There are several symptoms of mitochondrial disease, including poor growth, muscle weakness and pain, sensory issues, neurological delays and disorders, issues with organs and many others. Tay-Sachs disease results when the offspring receives two defective HEXA genes. Symptoms of this include slow development and will lead to the death of the child at a young age. Wilson’s disease causes copper to accumulate in the blood and tissues of the body eventually resulting in liver disease and failure. Type I diabetes is an inherited trait where the pancreas fails to produce insulin in response to increased levels of glucose in the bloodstream. To treat type I diabetes, affected individuals require insulin injections in order to regulate their blood glucose levels, and complete the metabolic pathway. All of these diseases have no way to be prevented; however, some have functional treatments. None of these diseases can be cured and will persist in affected individuals until they pass away.

Type II diabetes is the clearest example of how the imbalance in an individual’s diet and activity level will directly affect the rest of one’s life. A diet high in saturated fats and sugars leads to a response in the body where an increased level of insulin is released into the bloodstream to allow the cells the ability to metabolize the sugars that were just consumed. Over time, the body continues to produce these increased levels of insulin and yet, will slowly react less and less to the insulin in circulation. The less the cells react to insulin, the slower the metabolic pathways work, and as a result, the less sugar that is used for the production of ATP. A slower metabolic rate can lead to fatigue, headaches, weight gain, constipation, depression, thin hair, brittle nails and dry skin.

Your metabolism constantly provides your body with the energy necessary to complete the everyday essential bodily functions, such as breathing, digestion, and brain function. The metabolism required to perform these everyday essentials is known as your basal metabolic rate, this is essentially the rate that your cells need to complete the metabolic pathways in order to provide enough energy for your body to continue functioning normally. Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) accounts for approximately 65% of your total daily energy needs, meaning that only 35% is needed to do things such as walking and talking, moving your finger to type or even lifting heavy weights. If your body is unable to process the energy you put into it, your body will enter a starvation mode where all glucose that isn’t immediately converted into ATP will be turned into fat storage, leading to increased body mass and a higher body fat percentage.

One way to treat type II diabetes is with activities designed to increase the cellular metabolic rate. Drinking increased levels of water has helped individuals improve their metabolic rate. Eating more protein with every meal, (over 25 grams per meal) and introducing high-intensity workouts have shown to increase your metabolic rate. Getting a full night of sleep is another incredibly important aspect that will lead to increasing your metabolism. Implementing these four things significantly increases the rate at which your body performs cellular metabolism, and helps to reverse the insulin resistance certain cells have learned over time. Increasing your metabolic rate has several other benefits including; maintaining weight, lower body fat percentage, less restrictive dieting to lose weight and a greater abundance of energy. Maintaining your body weight becomes much more manageable when you have a high metabolism because your body is able to utilize all of the food you put in, have a lower body fat percentage, and have more energy being produced.

-Corbin Hampton

 

Ayurveda and Metabolism

  Ayurveda is a concept native to India and more specifically to the Hindu religion. It consists of multiple categories of human health extending past the physical. Emotional, mental, and social well-being are also monitored allowing it to serve as a traditional comprehensive medical system. It’s based around the idea of bodily balance; this idea consists of diets, breathing patterns, and herbal treatments much more broad than modern western medicine. The Hindu religion and culture believes that the mind, spirit, and body are linked and that these connections can be used as powerful methods to keep the body balanced. 

Interestingly enough, physical health can be significantly altered if the balance of overall well-being is disrupted. Diseases, viruses, illnesses, etc., which are all part of what we consider disruption in physical health can be enhanced by unbalancing oneself emotionally, mentally, or socially. The invasion of a virus, a bacteria, or a mutation in genetics can occur naturally but by disrupting the balance, our immune systems weakens and we become more vulnerable to disease and infection. This type of balance exists at all levels of life; at the most basic levels and at the most complex. 

Metabolism is a crucial set of highly regulated metabolic pathways that help an organism function properly. These metabolic pathways consist of several complex reactions that produce and sustain the bodily functions in the organism. The basic function of metabolism however can be defined as the chemical breakdown of food ingested and producing vital resources and energy the body requires. These key pieces are essential to life.

Homeostasis is the state of steady equilibrium in the body. This state of equilibrium can only be achieved if the body can regulate and maintain systems correctly. Physiological processes like metabolism are complex systems that require high regulation and control. If the metabolic pathway is working too much or if it is working not enough, it can lose control over the bodily function and begin to leave homeostasis. In order for the organism to maintain control, signals are used to regulate the activity of these pathways. 

In the process of metabolism, the pathway's main job is to process ingested food and break it down into a state that the body can use as a source of energy. Glucose is a sugar that is broken down to nurture cells within the body and is part of the metabolic pathway. Glucose can either be obtained from ingested food or internally produced by the liver. The liver produces glucose when blood sugar levels are low in the body and when the cells signal for more nutrients. The majority of the time, a body receives most of its glucose from food that has been eaten. Once the food enters the small intestine, the glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream where it then can circulate through the body. When glucose enters the bloodstream, a signal is sent through the body saying that blood sugar is increasing. The pancreas will then release insulin to break down the glucose to energy or store it as fat for later use. Insulin moves the glucose from the blood toward muscles and fats; muscles use it for energy and fats.

This process is highly regulated when functioning normally. Insulin levels increase and decrease due to the amount of sugar (glucose) circulating in the blood. However, if the body loses control and is unable to regulate secretion levels of insulin, homeostasis is broken and the regulatory communication is lost. This disruption in the metabolic pathway leads to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), energy loss, and a decline in fat storage. Without insulin uptaking glucose from the blood, cells begin to lose function due to the fact that they aren’t receiving proper nutrients. Ultimately, this can lead to one obtaining the disease diabetes.

Diabetes is presented in more than one form. There are several types of diabetes and each is obtained in different ways. The two types are type 1 and type 2 which are becoming more prevalent in the world today. Type 1 diabetes is unpreventable while type 2 diabetes is preventable. Even though both are slightly different, the metabolic pathway that causes diabetes is the same. Diabetes is a great example of how a metabolic pathway disruption can cause an overall health problem. Beta cells in the pancreas are responsible for producing insulin that is used in the metabolic pathway. However, diabetes causes the beta cells to be damaged and considered foreign to the immune system. The immune system’s job is to eliminate any altered self-cell or any foreign cell (bacterial cells) that has entered the body. When the beta cell is damaged, it is considered altered and the T cells of the immune system attack the beta cells, eventually killing them. When this occurs, little to no insulin is produced. This dramatically causes disruption in the metabolic pathway. Our body will signal that it is hungry, food will be eaten, and glucose will enter the body. The glucose will be absorbed into the blood but without insulin to break it down into energy, the body doesn’t receive what it needs. This will result in the body calling for more food and the feeling of hunger will continue. The continuation of eating will increase the glucose levels in the blood causing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). The liver will also begin producing glucose because the body signals it needs energy. The system works that more glucose equals more energy (assuming insulin is present). This will increase blood sugars even more because two forms of glucose production are feeding the system without insulin to break it down. As we can see, insulin not only disrupts the uptake of glucose in the body but it also affects other pathways throughout the body. 

Some other symptoms in those that do have diabetes are: tiredness, numbness in hands and feet, excessive urination, sores healing slowly, hunger, blurry vision, more infection, etc.. This almost seeming simple concept of metabolism if not regulated properly has a larger holistic  effect on the body as a whole. 

Unfortunately there is not a cure for diabetes and type 1 is unpreventable. However, there are some treatments that do help those diagnosed with this disease. There are insulin injections and insulin pumps that add artificial insulin in the body when blood sugar levels increase. There is a surgical transplant method that replaces the pancreatic islets (where insulin is produced by beta cells). There are other treatment options but aren’t done in ways that are common in western medicine. These other types of treatment base their ideas in a more comprehensive medical view. A major contributor for treating diabetes is regular exercise. Exercise in general has proven to increase one's health overall. The stimulation of muscles demands more energy and also uses some fat storages. This signals a higher demand for insulin in the body to break the glucose down to provide the energy. By increasing the demand, more beta cells are being produced to create insulin. Increasing the concentration of beta cells makes it easier for the body to produce insulin because not as many percentage wise are damaged and eliminated by the T cells.

Ayurveda looks beyond modern medicine and roots its views into a traditional medical system. The treatments look at the body as a whole and not specifically at a disease. Using methods like exercise for diabetical treatment isn’t directly focusing on the disease but it looks at the overall health of a person who is suffering from a disease. Future research into Ayurveda traditional medicine hopefully can result in finding additional methods for treating chronic disease like diabetes. Restoring overall balance through more holistic medicine may help to rebalance pathways that have been disrupted and lost homeostasis in the body. As research advances and as this traditional type of medicine has obtained popularity, it will be interesting to see what scientists and doctors create as future treatments against chronic diseases. 

Ayurveda and metabolism

            For as long as humans have been around, we have been researching and discovering ways to solve our problems. Whether it is the domestication of fire to fix cold, dark nights, or inventing cars to travel from place to place quicker, our understanding of the world and control of our environment have improved drastically. While we have not fixed everything, at least we have scientific explanations for almost any worldly phenomenon. In this writing, the focus will be on medical research and understanding, emphasizing improvements in understanding of metabolic disorder.

            Archeologists can learn much about ancient civilizations by their beliefs surrounding disease and medicine. Every culture has different ideas about the causes of disease, ranging from the gods punishing people to an imbalance in internal body systems. As one of the oldest traditional systems of medicine (estimated to be as old as 2nd century BC), Hindus practiced and believed in ayurveda as a gift from Brahma, the creator of the universe. Many old systems of medicine, including ayurveda, focused on a holistic approach to medicine as health is heavily influenced by all aspects of life. In ayurveda, life exists in a balance, with small issues resulting in imbalances that can present as illness. Further, the body is composed of seven important tissues: tissue fluids, fat/connective tissues, blood, bones, marrow, muscle, semen, and waste. Three humors maintain balance of the seven tissues and explain the many physiological functions of the human body. If these humors are not functioning in harmony with one another, imbalances in tissues can cause illness and pain. Five karmas (actions) are used to restore the balance of three humors. These karmas are purgation through use of powders, therapeutic

 

emesis, detoxification of blood, use of enemas, and administration of medicines through nasal routes.

 

Essentially, plants and toxins are used to appease blockages disrupting the flow of tissues so that the

 

body can restore its own normal function.

            In many ways, ayurveda principles are still accurate and used to this day. There are many

organ systems in the body that must work together in harmony, or the other systems cannot do their

job.  The immune system must function to protect the other systems from pathogens, the digestive

system must provide the rest of the body with nourishment, etc. If any of these systems have

imbalances, the rest can suffer. Diabetes is a result of one of these abnormalities and imbalances

in the metabolism of the body. Insulin is a product of many cell functions, and if there is an

imbalance in any of the prerequisite reactions, the desired product can not be produced. Finally,

the product can not be used as a future substrate, preventing occurrence of resulting reactions.

Diabetes has many chain reactions beyond issues with nourishing cells.

            As ayurveda suggests, the body has many ways to stabilize imbalances in blood sugar,

but diabetes is a result of poor control of these pathways. Essentially, diabetes occurs when

issues cause the body to lose the ability to restore balance in blood sugar. There are 2 types of

diabetes, with differences in cause and treatment. Type 1 is typically associated with issues

involving B cells in the pancreas, resulting in insufficient amounts of insulin being produced.

WIthout this insulin, glucose levels in the blood remain high and glucose levels within the cells

are low. When cells do not receive glucose, they have low energy and cannot perform many

vital cell functions. Type 1 diabetes usually cannot be cured, but it can be treated with insulin

injections. Other causes for Type 1 diabetes include endocrine diseases affecting hormones,

viruses and infections, physical damage to pancreas, or, most commonly, autoimmune diseases.

            Type 2 diabetes is very different from Type 1, as the issues stem from insulin resistant receptors on the cells that prevent glucose uptake. There can be plenty of insulin and glucose around the cells, they just have receptors that need higher amounts of insulin before they accept the glucose. Treatment can still be done with insulin injections, but this can worsen the problem by making the receptors more insulin resistant. While some people are more at risk for Type 2 diabetes than others, based on age, race, and genetics, the chances of getting type 2 are increased by physical inactivity, high body weight, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be treated by weight loss and a healthy diet, but not always.

            Secondary effects of diabetes reach every body system. High blood glucose and hypertension can damage the sensitive blood vessels of the eye, leading to cataracts and glaucoma. Hyperglycemia can cause pain and numbness in the peripheral nervous system. Coronary heart failure or stroke may occur as a result of high blood pressure.

            Type 1 diabetes can be very difficult to predict or prevent, as family history and genetics can play the biggest role. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes can typically be prevented with a healthy amount of physical exercise. Our bodies evolved with our ancestors running miles and miles every day while eating a very pure diet. For that reason, they are not well adapted to sitting for hours on end while doing computer work and snacking on highly processed foods. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help maintain the balance of all of our body functions, even down to a cellular level. When muscle cells are active, cellular respiration happens at a higher rate, increasing the amount of glucose that is consumed. This prevents a buildup of glucose remaining in the bloodstream. If there is a high amount of glucose in blood vessels and cells are not consuming it, the cells eventually learn not to bring in excess glucose by becoming more insulin resistant.

            In conclusion, the human body is very effective at regulating itself and maintaining proper balance of the many organs systems. People have known this for thousands of years, even without modern technology and understanding of the body at a cellular level. However, this balance can be very fragile, with something as small as chemical resistant receptors causing tons of problems. It seems that the ancient Hindus understood that disease often results from a small part of a body process malfunctioning, resulting in an avalanche of issues that are difficult to fix.

The Inherent Connections

 

Brayden Koch

The Inherent Connections

As one takes a second to look at the world around them, connections between various factors of life will soon be apparent. From insects receiving food from plants while simultaneously spreading their pollen to nature’s carbon cycle continuously recycling an invaluable element, life is full of connections. With an emphasis on natural connection, Ayurveda, the knowledge of life, is an ancient form of medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years. The principle of Ayurveda stresses the connection between the mind and body in humans and accentuates the importance of this connection in maintaining homeostasis. In fact, Ayurveda highlights that the body cannot be well if the mind has problems and vice versa. Rather, true balance within the body is needed to maintain a healthy state. Eating healthy foods, maintaining positive mental health, and exercising are some methods used in eastern medicine to maintain a balance in one’s body. 

According to www.hopkinsmedicine.org regarding Ayurveda, imbalance within the body is the cause of disease. In a healthy person, different aspects of the body are connected and balanced. As any part of the body becomes imbalanced, disease or illness can follow. A healthy physiological state can only be returned when the body falls back into alignment. One of the most common imbalances in the body that is seen in the United States is diabetes. As I look back on my life, it is not hard to think of people I have interacted with who have diabetes. From some of my family members to friends at school, many people I care for have been inflicted with this terrible disease. According to www.CDC.gov, 37.3 million people in the United States have diabetes. That is 11.3% of the population. I never realized how many people suffer from this horrible disease. 

An important distinction when discussing diabetes is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.  Both versions of the disease involve the body’s imbalance and inability to take up glucose from the blood and into the cells. In a healthy body, insulin helps glucose absorb into the cells. Without insulin, glucose cannot be absorbed into the cells resulting in high blood sugar. In type 1 diabetes the body either does not produce insulin or there is a natural resistance to insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in young children and is not curable. 

Similar to type 1, type 2 diabetes also involves resistance to insulin which elevates blood glucose levels. Contrastingly, type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in older adults and results from the body producing less insulin over time or the cells becoming resistant to insulin’s effects. The body’s cells can become less resistant to insulin over time when an individual constantly has high blood sugar levels and/or lives a sedentary lifestyle. Type 2 diabetes commonly affects unhealthy adults and is generally seen as preventable in most cases.  

Even though diabetes is a common disease, left untreated, it can become deadly. If a diabetic does not take regular insulin and lives a healthy and active lifestyle, kidney, eye, and muscular damage will eventually result. If the disease is allowed to further progress, loss of limbs and eventually death will take place. According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2019, almost 90 thousand people in the United States passed away from diabetes.

 While eating healthy, and getting enough exercise is vital for the treatment of diabetes, most diabetics need to take supplemental insulin for their treatment. Unfortunately, even though insulin has been around for over 100 years, the cost of this life-saving compound has drastically risen in price. It now costs hundreds of dollars a month for a supply of insulin which many people cannot afford. According to www.hopkinsmedicine.org insulin is rapidly becoming more expensive due to a process called evergreening. During this process, pharmaceutical companies continually perform small adjustments to the medications which allow them to consistently renew their patents. Without generic insulin, pharmaceutical companies can unjustly charge as much as they want for their life-saving medications. 

An additional, important connection in society is found between illness and the United States economy. In the article Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2012, I was surprised to learn just how devastating diabetes is for this country. As the article mentions, in 2012, diagnosed diabetes resulted in 245 billion dollars in healthcare costs and associated productivity losses. This number is staggering, and I believe serves as another example of why the United States should work hard to prevent, treat, and cure diabetes. I personally thought this article was interesting by showing its readers another side of the disease. When I think of diabetes, I tend to think about the disease itself and not the toll it is taking on society. By further understanding the economics of the disease, I believe we will be better able to assess and become motivated as a country to solve this issue. 

Another interesting link between the overall health of our bodies and its connection to other factors is found in the human microbiome. According to the article, 20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Human Gut Microbiome, the human microbiome is defined as all of the viruses, bacteria, fungi, archaea, and eukaryotes that inhabit our bodies. Amazingly, there is over ten times the number of microbial cells in the human cells than human cells in the entire body. 

While having trillions of microbes inside our bodies seems counterproductive, our human microbiomes are essential for the normal function of our bodies. In fact, recent research has demonstrated that our microbiomes impact almost every one of our day-to-day functions. Specifically, our gut microbiome has been shown to positively affect sleep patterns, immune capacity, neurological development, cardiac physiology, and much more. Without these beneficial bacteria, we as humans may have more issues plaguing our bodies. 

Considering the wide pathologies the microbiome is involved in, it is of no surprise that new research has found that gut microbiome health is associated with diabetes. In 2020 the article, Gut microbiota, and diabetes: From Correlation to causality and Mechanism, was published. Researchers who wrote this article found an undeniable link between the microbiome and diabetes. Specifically, the researchers believe that the microbiome will one day be used as a biomarker for the disease as well as a target for new biotherapies. 

While the practice of Ayurveda has continued for thousands of years, my experiences within the healthcare system of the United States have shown that our healthcare system lacks the motivation to connect mind and body. Rather, I have noticed that physicians generally treat symptoms of the body directly without considering how mental health impacts the disease. I believe this approach commonly focuses on the treatment of the disease and not the prevention of it. In the United States, it is common to be seen by a doctor after severe symptoms of an illness have started. While this approach can help alleviate sickness, it masks the importance of preventing the disease in the first place.

While I believe that “eastern medicine” has some benefits, I do not think that relying solely on the practices of Ayurveda will benefit patients in the United States. Rather, I feel a combination of eastern and western medicine would produce the best methodologies and treatment procedures for patients. By mixing modern medicine with the knowledge of the connection between mind and body, I believe medicine and patient outcomes in the country will be improved. 

Throughout these few weeks, I am amazed at the amount of information we do and don't understand about our bodies. As a biology major, I am motivated to one day be part of the solution to making the world a healthier place. I believe that we as a society will only continue to advance as we continue to make discoveries about our bodies. From solving diabetes to learning more about the symbiotic bacteria living inside of us, I am excited to be a part of the future of scientists and physicians. 

Sources

American Diabetes Association. Economic costs of diabetes in the U.S. in 2012. Diabetes Care. 2013 Apr;36(4):1033-46. doi: 10.2337/dc12-2625. Epub 2013 Mar 6. PMID: 23468086; PMCID: PMC3609540.

“Ayurveda.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2 Dec. 2019, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/ayurveda. 

Dewar, Heather. “Why People with Diabetes Can't Buy Generic Insulin - 03/18/2015.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, Based in Baltimore, Maryland, 18 Mar. 2015, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/why_people_with_diabetes_cant_buy_generic_insulin. 

Ferranti EP, Dunbar SB, Dunlop AL, Corwin EJ. 20 things you didn't know about the human gut microbiome. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2014 Nov-Dec;29(6):479-81. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000166. PMID: 25290618; PMCID: PMC4191858.

Li WZ, Stirling K, Yang JJ, Zhang L. Gut microbiota and diabetes: From correlation to causality and mechanism. World J Diabetes. 2020 Jul 15;11(7):293-308. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v11.i7.293. PMID: 32843932; PMCID: PMC7415231.

“National Diabetes Statistics Report.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Jan. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html. 

“Statistics about Diabetes.” Statistics About Diabetes | ADA, 28 July 2022, https://diabetes.org/about-us/statistics/about-diabetes. 

    Ayurveda is a natural route of medicine to lead to a better overall health. It uses healing of the body and mind in a more natural way. I found that it uses five elements including air, water, space, earth, and fire. In a more realistic way they use natural ways to help heal and bring balance such as dietary changes, herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, and meditation. I found it interesting that a big part of ayurveda is promoting health and consciousness. Being in tune with your surroundings and environment is a key aspect in ayurveda healing. Listening to your body is an important aspect of healing naturally. If something makes you feel sluggish, cutting it out of your diet would be an easy natural healing method. 

There are many things in life that need medical treatment, such as an inflamed appendix or a broken bone, but I also think that there are a lot of ways to prevent and even treat illnesses without medication. Things such as a proper diet and being in tune with your reaction to food can help prevent things such as bowel issues and even obesity. Keeping stress levels lower has also been shown to improve the body's overall health. Using ayurveda methods such as massage and acupuncture can help let go of stress and bring awareness of the body and the mind. 

Even though many things can heal naturally without medical intervention, diabetes is something that needs medical intervention but can also benefit from natural life improvements. There are two main types of diabetes, both of which need healthy lifestyles that can be helped with ayurveda. Watching what you eat and exercising can always help improve or even in some cases, it can help prevent diabetes all together.

One thing that I found very interesting with type one diabetes versus type two is that the concordance of identical twins having type one is 50%, and type two is 90%. This really intrigued me because of the differences in the different types of diabetes. Type one is a genetic predisposition where the cells stop recognizing the beta cells that produce insulin. The body then begins to attack those cells. This usually happens at a younger age and there is nothing that person could do to change this or prevent it from happening. Type two, however, is a bit different because the environment affects whether a person gets type two or not. This includes the amount of exercises the person maintains, the dietary intake, and family history as well. The fact that it is more likely that both twins will get type two diabetes than type one shows just how much environmental factors and habits are similar between relatives and more specifically, twins.

Insulin is an important factor in diabetes. The body either cannot produce it, or it isn’t able to use it when it is made. Finding out that insulin is expensive for basically no reason because it is so cheap to create made me really question things about why. Insulin is made with recombinant DNA technology and puts human DNA that creates insulin into bacteria which then grows and replicates it. It is then collected and purified. It is a simple process and is easily done. It is not made from a rare substance, and it is not overly difficult to store. This is why it sounds like it should be fairly cheap. Not to mention that it is very necessary for insulin dependent people. Looking into it further, I found that it is because of the drug companies that own the rights to insulin. They make very small changes, but do it very often and get the patents for that specific form. This makes it so other companies cannot replicate and produce their own insulin. It also prevents any generic brands of insulin from forming, so patients have to pay for the on brand every time which is always so much more expensive. Health care is supposed to be helping those in need, and since they have the resources to create something so necessary on a cheap basis, we should make the big pharmaceuticals reduce their prices. This is a problem that should not be occurring. Another reason why this is so hard is because many people who are in the lower class area based on their incomes, they do not have the money to eat as healthy as other people can. They cannot pay for dance classes or gym passes. This makes them already more likely to develop type two diabetes. The life saving medication should be on a cheaper scale to help them get by. 

A study has shown that the average annual cost to take care of someone with diabetes is approximately 2.3 times higher than that of an average person. I think this goes along with the last paragraph very well. Many times diabetes is something that cannot be controlled by the individual. It isn’t always that they need to eat better or exercise more. It has been shown that type one diabetes usually happens in thinner people rather than just overweight. It not only shortens the life span usually, but it also adds so much money that the person will have to pay throughout their lives. Many people will ration their insulin as well just to save them extra money. This is such a big problem that should be fixed already. I do not understand. 

I did not think about all of the extra side effects that diabetes creates. Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar is a hard thing to deal with and can create many side effects. This includes high blood pressure, which is hard on your blood vessels and puts more pressure on the heart. It causes many changes to hormone, protein, and chemical levels in the body as well. It also can cause a change in skin color which I thought was quite interesting, but the main thing that I found interesting with this was that it can cause depression. With the different types of imbalances that it creates, it has been shown to make depression more common with those living with hyperglycemia. I am in a histology class this semester as well, and I also found it interesting that with higher levels of fat in the body, it will produce a bad hormone that encourages fat, and vice versa with lower levels of fat. It is like a negative cycle with fat that creates more fat. This is the same thing here. With diabetes causing hyperglycemia causing depression, it will usually make that person give up wanting to try rather than actually find the energy to exercise and watch what they eat.