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

Curated Paper 1- Emmalee Nonnenmacher

 Curated Paper #1

In our westernized society, we are made to believe that modern medicine is the only antidote to our interminable and continuous health struggles. Scientists and health care professionals are constantly trying to develop new technologies and medical treatments to cure or alleviate disease. In some cases, diseases can become resistant to these treatments. In fact, throughout the world, antibiotic resistance to microbiological diseases is a developing concern (Spellberg et al. 2008). While trying to constantly develop new medicine, we fail to recognize that traditional and holistic medicine can be just as helpful in the treatment and prevention of disease. “Ayurveda” is a practice that stemmed from pre colonial India almost 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda is the practice and belief that all things are interconnected and that every individual possesses a unique set of energy sources, or doshas. Whenever these doshas become imbalanced, disease and other health concerns may occur if not corrected promptly (John Hopkins Medicine 2024).

Metabolism is a complex network of biochemical reactions that convert food into energy, and plays a crucial role in our overall health. Eukaryotic cells constantly perform these labyrinths of chemical reactions in order to keep our body functioning properly. In relation to Ayurveda, when these networks become imbalanced, our bodies' instinctive metabolic harmony is disrupted. In individuals with diabetes, this intricate system is disrupted, leading to impaired regulation of blood sugar levels. Diabetes, a chronic condition characterized by either insufficient insulin production or ineffective insulin use, results in elevated glucose levels in the blood. This metabolic imbalance can cause a cascade of health issues, affecting everything from energy levels to cardiovascular health.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are both chronic conditions that affect the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels, but they differ significantly in their causes and management. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where beta cells of the pancreas inadequately secrete insulin, leading to little or no insulin production (Ozougwu et al. 2013). It typically has a sudden onset that manifests in childhood or early adulthood and requires lifelong insulin therapy. In contrast, Type 2 diabetes is often related to insulin resistance, where the body’s cells do not respond effectively to insulin, combined with a gradual decline in insulin production. Its onset is gradual and is more common in adults. It can often be managed with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, though some individuals may eventually need medication or insulin if not treated properly. Both types necessitate careful monitoring of blood sugar levels to prevent complications, but their underlying mechanisms and treatment strategies differ.

Diabetes has a profound impact on society, shaping public health, economic stability, and healthcare systems. On a societal level, the rising prevalence of diabetes, particularly Type 2, poses significant health challenges, increasing the burden of chronic diseases and contributing to higher rates of cardiovascular complications. In 2013, the leading cause of death in the U.S was heart disease, with diabetes being the seventh leading cause. Heart disease, diabetes, and other related diseases can be attributed to a lack of physical activity. While biological treatments such as diet and exercise can be effective at treating this disease, it is only a short-term solution. It is necessary to consider the impact of both social and physical environments when it comes to diabetes treatment and prevention. Social determinants such as low-income, education, housing, and access to nutritional foods, are all attributed to Type 2 diabetes (Hill et al. 2013). Studies show that those with less education and income have a two to four times higher risk of developing diabetes than those who have greater income and education. 

While diabetes can be influenced on a societal level, community resources and healthcare services are also affected. Hospitalization is three times more common in people with diabetes than in people without a chronic illness (Haque et al. 2021). Because of this, hospitals face increased patient loads and high expenses related to diabetes complications. This in turn can lead to a higher demand for specialized care and resources.

The economic impact of diabetes extends to the government, which must allocate substantial funds for diabetes-related healthcare costs, including hospitalizations, medications, and preventive measures. Compared to other hospitalized patients, the average yearly cost of caring for someone with diabetes is roughly 2.3 times higher. In 2012, researchers found that the average cost of diabetes treatment in the U.S was $245 billion (American Diabetes Association 2013). As U.S populations rise, diabetes prevalence will also rise. It is predicted that diagnosed and undiagnosed cases of diabetes in the U.S are expected to rise from 14% to 21% in 2050 (Boyle et al. 2010). These direct costs contribute to billions of dollars annually in healthcare expenditures, highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention and management strategies to mitigate the economic impact of this chronic condition.

I have some close relatives who are diabetic or prediabetic. Most of their diagnosis of this disease was attributed to poor eating and health habits. I have a grandpa and uncle who both have fairly recently had a heart attack. This has caused alarm in my family and has taken personal and financial tolls on these individuals. After doing more research on this disease, it is startling how common it is in the U.S and how many cascading effects it can have on society as a whole. As a broke college student, I try to eat as healthy as I can and get a sufficient amount of exercise and sleep. In our hustling and on-the-go societal norms, we barely have enough time or energy to prioritize our health. This constant interplay of trying to balance everyday life and a healthy body can be related to Ayurveda. If we spend too much time on our professional endeavors, our bodies and minds start to disconnect from each other and vice versa. I believe this imbalance can also be a contributing factor to the diabetes pandemic. 

I know in my personal life when I get too stressed, I have a hard time functioning correctly. I get so fixated on one particular issue that I neglect my and every individual's core necessity, which is to have balance in our life. Just like an imbalance in our metabolism, small imbalances between our minds and bodies can have negative impacts on our overall function. Along with Ayurveda, I like the idea that everything is connected. I believe that humans are more interconnected to nature than we think. It is hard to recognize this sometimes due to all the technological advances in the world. As a “gen Zer”, I would say that much like my peers, I am pretty addicted to my phone and social media. I have a hard time balancing phone time and being a regular, human person. I have pretty bad anxiety which can be partly attributed to all the time I spend behind a screen. I find that it really helps me to go out in nature and be away from such distractions. The human body is such a beautiful, complex system just like our mother earth. Like Earth, if there is a slight disturbance in our ecosystem, everything in that system gets disrupted. On top of that, the cell theory states that the cell is the basic unit of life and that living cells only come from other living cells. This theory in itself to me proves that humans are connected to all living things. Most people, including myself, seem to forget this. While I do not think Ayurveda is the cure to all diseases, I think if we spent more time prioritizing having balance in our life, our overall health would greatly improve.

Curated Paper 1

 

My first introduction to the idea of ayurveda was actually a while ago on a podcast I was listening to. The episode featured two doctors, one who was a proponent of ayurvedic medicine and the other who generally disagreed with the idea of ayurveda in medical practice. The doctor who wasn’t a fan of ayurvedic medicine said that the danger of ayurvedic medicine is that people who rely on it for their primary form of healthcare may miss easy treatments available from western medicine when focusing on alternative care. The doctor in favor of ayurvedic medicine said that the benefit lies in promoting a well-rounded and healthy life while providing relief for those who may not find easy medical solutions.

Upon spending more time learning about ayurveda, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. If we look broadly at society today, we have a society who is far healthier in many aspects of health than more ancient generations were. However, we are also probably unhealthier than they were in other aspects of health. For example, the bubonic plague killed more than 25 million people during the 1300s. Most people today do not realize the plague bacteria still exists and infections can still occur. This is likely because today most cases are easily treated with early detection and a course of antibiotics. This is a prime example of how we as a society face less health risks than previous eras of humanity did. While this is true to a large extent, we also face different health risks than previous eras. For example, just in the last 60 years the rate of obesity in the US has tripled with about 70% of adults being considered overweight or obese. Again this shows an example of how today’s population may face health risks that other generations did not face as frequently. An easy question to ask is: why? And perhaps a good follow up is: what can be done?

This to me is where a balance between western and ayurvedic medical approaches can provide benefit. A major idea of ayurveda is balance. By balancing the body, mind, and spirit it is believed that more optimal health outcomes can be achieved. This idea is not only a good theory, but to some extent is actually backed by scientific data. Data has shown that there are significant correlations between health conditions and factors like socioeconomic status and lifestyle. In this sense ayurveda can play a realistic role in providing better care for patients. By creating balance of lifestyle factors and physical health, patients can be better set up for long term health.

It is also intriguing to see how the idea of ayurveda and balance play a role in several aspects of our body’s functions. For example, our metabolism consists of chains or pathways of chemical reactions that are used to keep the cells or body alive. A proper regulation of the control of these reactions maintains the balance or flow of metabolites. If one area of metabolic functions becomes out of balance, it can cause several downstream effects and imbalances leading to further complications. Likewise, conditions such as diabetes are described as systemic imbalances.

Diabetes describes an imbalance of the system which is responsible for controlling glucose levels in the blood stream. When beta cells which normally produce insulin become nonfunctional, blood glucose levels can be raised. In turn, this can cause several associated complications such as increased blood pressure, decreased red blood cell flexibility, increased inflammation and much more. Other areas of the body can have complications as a result as well such as cataracts of the eyes, nephropathy in the kidneys, increased risk of stroke, and increased risk of heart disease. There are also associated life complications including financial stress and social stigmas. A unique connection here is what some people call type three diabetes. While most of us are well aware of type one and two diabetes, type three diabetes is an emerging idea that relates to the idea of balance. Type three diabetes is described as the condition in which the brain’s neurons stop responding to insulin which could be linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Again this shows an interesting connection to the idea of balance and how glucose and insulin levels can affect more areas than that which they are normally associated with.

Diabetes has a personal connection to many of us, or in other words, most of us know at least one person who suffers from a type of diabetes. My family has had several people affected by both type one and type two diabetes including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and in-laws. This has definitely led me to try to limit my risk factors as much as possible. One of the most identifiable risk factors associated with diabetes is inactivity. In other words, being physically active is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of developing type two diabetes and reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes. This is another interesting example of how balance is associated with health. While physical activity does not directly affect the pancreas and other organs associated with diabetes, the benefits of activity can cause downstream effects like improved blood flow, heart health, and more which in turn can improve the outlook for patients at with or at risk of diabetes.

Another example of the idea of balance in the body can be seen in the microbiome. The microbiome is the bacterial community of the human gastrointestinal tract. It differs somewhat between individuals and is affected by things like diet, exposure to bacteria, or antibiotic usage. The microbiome is linked with several other functions of the body such as sleep patterns, weight loss/gain, neurological function, and cardiovascular function among others. Imbalances of the makeup of the microbiome can result in clostridium infections, metabolic changes, and influence a variety of other conditions like diabetes or cancer. These examples show ayurveda can be used to describe the interconnectedness of many functions in our bodies.

I grew up in a generally health-conscious household with a holistic and western view on healthcare. We generally looked for holistic options and proactive, preventative care options before resorting to other treatments. However, we also did have times where we needed treatment for things like strep throat with antibiotics. I think sometimes about those care options and wonder how often they were actually necessary. It seemed like a lot of times we were prescribed antibiotics preemptively for symptoms without test results just to prevent the possibility of a bacterial infection getting worse. Certainly preventing a serious infection is worthwhile, but it also seems like it could’ve been handled better at times.

I have also noticed a lot of the effects of microbiome imbalance, or at least symptoms of it, in my life. Generally, I try to eat pretty healthy, but I notice when I am not eating a holistic natural diet that I tend to have a lot of inflammatory symptoms of microbiome imbalance. It also is interesting to see when a gastrointestinal illness passes through, like the stomach flu or something similar, effects the digestive system for some time after. I personally notice I don’t digest food quite as well for a short time after eliminating the infection. As another example of ayurveda, or balance among the body and its systems and our lifestyles, the microbiome is quite a complex aspect of our anatomy with a widespread effect on many other areas of our health.

With these examples, we can see how complex the interconnected nature of the body and its systems can make healthcare complex. It also shows how ayurveda and the idea of balance can be used to help improve overall patient health. When we look at treating certain ailments, it’s important to consider the downstream effects and how other areas of the body can be impacted. By keeping this in mind, we can hopefully create a more well-rounded model of care.

 

 

 

 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21590-bubonic-plague

https://usafacts.org/articles/obesity-rate-nearly-triples-united-states-over-last-50-years/

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/researchers-link-alzheimers-gene-to-type-iii-diabetes/

Curated Paper 1- KP

The body has always been a super interesting topic to me. The careful balance of so many different things perfectly blending into one functioning organism is so incredible. Specifically the microbiome and its connection with many mental and physical ailments, but of course what is a microbiome? It is a complex community of little organisms in a specific environment. Already off to an interesting start. These microbiomes are all over our bodies, hands, mouths, feet, hair and even the intestines, the gut microbiome specifically being our main focus for now.

The microbiome of the human gut is connected to many different diseases, including many behavioral and hormonal disorders. Showing the connection between our gut microbiome and our physical/mental health is a very deep pool that not many people know about. In studies done on mice they showed completely different personality types with the only difference being the presence of a diverse gut microbiome. The mice with a more diverse system of microbes within them showed more curiosity and an easier time dealing with stressful situations. These helpful bacteria within us are sometimes the line between life and death (thanks little guys). 

In the study I read about, they used forced immobilization to mice with and without these diverse microbiomes and the results ended up being exactly what I stated before. Low anxiety with more curiosity of their environment. These factors alone are so interesting to me because they affect mice so much it’s obvious it has to affect us majorly too. I found that some of the links of human illness and the gut microbiome include anxiety disorders, depression, and even ASD (Autism spectrum disorder). While doing some research on these disorders I remembered my cousin who recently graduated high school. He has low-functioning autism so it was really nice to see his love for learning pay off. Low-functioning autism is the most intense form of autism which basically means he needs more help than most people. My nephew on the other hand has high-functioning autism so he isn’t as challenged in everyday life but I have seen his struggles before. Including those two, I have a few other family members who are on the spectrum with different levels of functionality. It’s interesting how differently it expresses itself between individuals who are on the spectrum. When looking into treatment of other neurological disorders, I found that many of the drugs used to treat them actually have antimicrobial properties. Some other effects of the drugs can actually decrease after a certain period and then all other drugs that are closely similar to the initial dose drug are actually partially or completely ineffective after that. Another interesting thing that can be caused by changes in the microbiome is actually diabetes.

I have a pretty decent amount of family members with diabetes and it really surprised me how little I really knew about it. When doing my research I found some pretty good articles about it. The first one I reviewed mentions excess urine which my dad experienced on a trip home from college with my parents. We were driving home from Kansas after my first year of college and he had to stop so often that my mom and I were starting to get concerned. Finally a few days after we got home, we finally convinced him to go to the doctor about it, as the problem was still there, and soon after he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Interestingly enough, my grandparents on my mom’s side also had type 2 diabetes that didn’t affect them too much. Both of my grandparents passed away from other reasons but I did have a great uncle that passed away from complications of type 2 diabetes. Anyhow, I did discover a little more about some types of diabetes. Type 1 being (mostly) immune-mediated where beta cells are attacked by T-cells. There aren't any preventative measures as it is basically a “random” event. There is also Gestational diabetes which I do know a little bit about. The same article talks about a study done in 2008 that found an increase in rate of diabetes in expectant mothers. 

I also learned that my dad no longer has type 2 diabetes but is now borderline so he could tip either way at any time. This got me curious so I decided to look up how diabetes is reversed in patients who have it. The only results I could find were bariatric surgery so I had to backtrack and look up what that was too. Oddly enough I found out what it is and that a few of my relatives have had this surgery, not necessarily for diabetes but weight loss in general. Overall, I understand the effects of diabetes in everyday life. My dad was not thrilled with his diagnosis at all and was struggling to find foods he could eat that wouldn’t spike his blood sugar too high. This made him lose a lot of weight but fortunately now he has found a balance unlike my great uncle who could not. It is very interesting to me that some people would really rather die than change the way they live.

Another thing I find very interesting is the overall cost of living for those with diabetes. I understand that sometimes it really is because they cannot or will not change their way of living in order to maintain their health but it could be that they legitimately cannot afford the treatment for the disease. I decided to look up another country first and found some costs from China. An overall estimate for an inpatient year was $1,790.22 (converted to US dollars). Which is still a decent amount of money but I also decided to look up their minimum wage which I found to be $3.60/hr. Yikes. I did also find that it’s about $650.60/month for estimated monthly costs, which does not include rent. Then I decided to find some about the U.S. and I found that it is still ridiculously expensive compared to minimum wages and average monthly cost of living, but the paper I found actually shows a decrease in overall price when comparing institutional factors but when comparing outpatient numbers for diabetes supplies it is higher than another previous study that I used. 

Overall, the gut microbiome being connected to many different mental and physical illnesses is extremely interesting to me. I appreciate learning about all of these things to better understand those affected by these illnesses and learn more about my family. I never would’ve thought to look into these things unless on a whim. It also helps me understand ways to lessen the blow of certain illnesses and even prevent them as well as learning to understand how certain individuals go about daily life. However treatment for some of these illnesses are very expensive which makes it very hard for most people to get treatment.

Curated Paper #1

As I began reading about Ayurveda I learned that it originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. According to the John Hopkins Health Journal, Ayurveda embodies the concept that each individual has life forces at play in their lives. On top of this, each individual and their respective life forces are connected to the greater universe. If an imbalance occurs, this can set off the discontinuity of the person’s connection with the universe and they may experience adverse health effects. Before even looking for supporting information on the validity of Ayurveda, I already firmly believed in its truthfulness. I have found that when I let one facet of my life get out of balance, whether it be sleep, diet, or social interaction; my overall health suffers in a noticeable way. Although I don’t fully believe in the concept of everything being connected to the universe, I can clearly see how an imbalance can throw a person’s health out of whack. To illustrate this example, I will consider the example of someone who chooses a lifestyle that does not allow them to get adequate amounts of sleep. If this individual stays up until 3 AM every night, they likely will have trouble getting out of bed in the morning on time for their responsibilities. If they get behind on work projects/school responsibilities, their levels of stress and anxiety will likely rise. If they get behind on their work, they likely will not want to spend time cooking meals that will provide proper nutrition. They also probably won’t feel like exercising or exerting themselves if they are lacking energy from their bad diet and lack of sleep. I feel this example demonstrates that one imbalance can interfere in many areas of one’s health. The concept of Ayurveda has great worth and is something important for all of us to consider.

As I was reading through the module that was focused on Diabetes, I was amazed at all of the different ways in which diabetes can affect different pathways in the body. As I was looking through different papers, one thing that I noticed was that there have been a lot of studies looking at the cardiovascular consequences of diabetes. From collected data, the risk of cardiovascular diseases is significantly higher in patients that exhibit diabetes. Some of these diseases include stroke, atrial fibrillation flutter and left ventricle hypertrophy. Surprisingly events of mortality do not typically occur in patients from the side effects of diabetes, rather most events of mortality occur due to cardiovascular complications that may be correlated with the cases of diabetes. 

According to a journal found in the American physiological society, nonoxidative glucose pathways can become activated due to hyperglycemia. Once activated, these pathways are suspected to exhibit detrimental downstream effects on the epithelial cells that line the heart. In a similar literature review, it is stated that dyslipidemia, a condition in which a patient accumulates large amounts of LDL cholesterol, is a condition that many diabetic patients exhibit. Subsequently, the high amounts of LDL accumulate in the patient's vasculature which will undoubtedly cause hypertension. It also mentioned that hyperglycemia in diabetic patients commonly causes triglycerides to accumulate. When these triglycerides accumulate on the cardiac tissue, they can release toxins such as cytokines that can negatively affect the tissue. The interactions between cytokines and cardiac tissue is proposed to be a part of the reason as to why diabetic patients have lower diastolic function than non-diabetic patients. 

Another cardiovascular risk posed by diabetes is that of the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the patient's vascular structures. Advanced glycation end products are formed when glucose sugars attach to proteins, lipids, or other structures without the mediation of an enzyme. In the cause of hyperglycemia, there are many opportunities for the high levels of glucose molecules to interact with other biological molecules to form the advanced glycation end products. Once formed, these AGEs can accumulate in organs and cross like proteins together. This is especially dangerous in cardiovascular organs, as the AGEs can cross link the collagen contained in arteries, veins, and cardiac tissue to cause significant detrimental effects in the organ’s elastic function. Thus, the accumulation of AGEs in cardiac tissue is yet another instance in which diabetes can play a role in the onset of diabetes.

While reading through the modules about diabetes, I was shocked to see the financial consequences that come from healthcare focused on diabetes. I did not understand that diabetes not only affects the economy beyond just the healthcare costs such as production of insulin, dialysis, as well as the wages of the healthcare worker you focus on taking care of individuals suffering from the disease. Rather, diabetes drastically affects our economy in decreased production and societal contributions from those affected by diabetes. In 2012, a study focused on the economic costs of the diabetes epidemic, it was estimated that the American economy missed out on 69 billion dollars due to people missing work or being less physically capable to contribute to society due to their health condition. Of the total 245 billion dollar economic cost of diabetes in 2012, 176 billion dollars was included in the direct costs treating individuals with diabetes. 

Reading about the economic consequences of diabetes made me think about the COVID-19 epidemic. During the COVID-19 epidemic, it was clear to see that this certain virus had extremely detrimental effects on our economy. There were stories on the news just about every night about restaurant owners that were forced to close down their businesses or who were just crawling to stay afloat. Due to the quick transmission of the virus, many people lost their jobs because they were no longer safely able to gather with their co-workers at the workplace. However, even though the virus exhibited negative economic effects, in other ways it led to later advancements that increased our nation’s productivity. The introduction of “Zoom” meetings taught us that it is not necessary to meet in person for every meeting. This has allowed people to get a lot of work done at home without having to spend time traveling and spend money on gasoline or public transportation. The development of the novel RNA producing vaccine has inspired other researchers to convert that design to start trying to attack other viruses that impact our society. The development of the vaccine also created many jobs. I think it is very possible that even though diabetes is causing so many problems it may also exhibit some economic upside. There are many people who have jobs due to the presence of dialysis clinics. There are also many people that may have jobs conducting research on diabetes so we can better manage patients who are suffering. We also likely have learned a lot about other pathological pathways as we have devoted much attention to studying diabetes. Though I still believe the costs of diabetes far outweigh the benefits, I think it is interesting to consider the ways in which the epidemic of diabetes has benefited our society as weird as it sounds. 

As I was reading through the module that was focused on Diabetes, I was amazed at all of the different ways in which diabetes can affect different pathways in the body. As I was looking through different papers, one thing that I noticed was that there have been a lot of studies looking at the cardiovascular consequences of diabetes. From collected data, the risk of cardiovascular diseases is significantly higher in patients that exhibit diabetes. Some of these diseases include stroke, atrial fibrillation flutter and left ventricle hypertrophy. Surprisingly events of mortality do not typically occur in patients from the side effects of diabetes, rather most events of mortality occur due to cardiovascular complications that may be correlated with the cases of diabetes. 

According to a journal found in the American physiological society, nonoxidative glucose pathways can become activated due to hyperglycemia. Once activated, these pathways are suspected to exhibit detrimental downstream effects on the epithelial cells that line the heart. In a similar literature review, it is stated that dyslipidemia, a condition in which a patient accumulates large amounts of LDL cholesterol, is a condition that many diabetic patients exhibit. Subsequently, the high amounts of LDL accumulate in the patient's vasculature which will undoubtedly cause hypertension. It also mentioned that hyperglycemia in diabetic patients commonly causes triglycerides to accumulate. When these triglycerides accumulate on the cardiac tissue, they can release toxins such as cytokines that can negatively affect the tissue. The interactions between cytokines and cardiac tissue is proposed to be a part of the reason as to why diabetic patients have lower diastolic function than non-diabetic patients. 

Another cardiovascular risk posed by diabetes is that of the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the patient's vascular structures. Advanced glycation end products are formed when glucose sugars attach to proteins, lipids, or other structures without the mediation of an enzyme. In the cause of hyperglycemia, there are many opportunities for the high levels of glucose molecules to interact with other biological molecules to form the advanced glycation end products. Once formed, these AGEs can accumulate in organs and cross like proteins together. This is especially dangerous in cardiovascular organs, as the AGEs can cross link the collagen contained in arteries, veins, and cardiac tissue to cause significant detrimental effects in the organ’s elastic function. Thus, the accumulation of AGEs in cardiac tissue is yet another instance in which diabetes can play a role in the onset of diabetes.

While reading through the modules about diabetes, I was shocked to see the financial consequences that come from healthcare focused on diabetes. I did not understand that diabetes not only affects the economy beyond just the healthcare costs such as production of insulin, dialysis, as well as the wages of the healthcare worker you focus on taking care of individuals suffering from the disease. Rather, diabetes drastically affects our economy in decreased production and societal contributions from those affected by diabetes. In 2012, a study focused on the economic costs of the diabetes epidemic, it was estimated that the American economy missed out on 69 billion dollars due to people missing work or being less physically capable to contribute to society due to their health condition. Of the total 245 billion dollar economic cost of diabetes in 2012, 176 billion dollars was included in the direct costs treating individuals with diabetes. 

With all considered about the effects of diabetes, it is clear to recognize that diabetes typically does not just mess up one’s physical health. Rather, diabetes can also cripple people financially as they are forced to pay for insulin, dialysis, and other treatments to manage their symptoms. On top of this, these individuals will likely not be able to work as much; this likely draining them of more money. When a person’s health is affected by diabetes, they commonly will miss out on valuable opportunities to participate in physical activity. This can drain these patients’ of having fun with those they love, resulting in less social interaction. All mentioned above upholds the concept of Ayurveda mentioned earlier in the paper. When we consider all of the ways an individual’s life is affected by diabetes, it is clear to see they are negatively influenced in many ways outside of their physical health.

Curated Paper 1- Colton Koch

    While reading the page on metabolic pathways, it interesting to see the visual of how interconnected and delicate that these metabolic pathways truly are. During my time as a biology student, I have had the opportunity to study many of the different reactions independently of each other. Unfortunately, due to this style of learning during this time I did not see how interwoven these pathways are with each other. This interconnectedness of various metabolic pathways makes sense when you think of diseases being caused by a seemingly unrelated hormone or chemical that is too high or too low in another part of the body. It shows how a tiny imbalance in one system can cascade into a serious problem for another system.

    Diabetes is one of the most prevalent and common illness in the United States that is caused by an imbalance in the metabolic pathways of our body. I do not think there is anyone in the class or country that does not personally know an individual who has either Type I or Type II diabetes. From previous knowledge, I know that Type I is a genetic defect where the body is unable to produce insulin, and that Type II happens after the body is unable to effectively take up glucose. It is interesting to look at how different organ systems play roles in controlling blood sugar and hyper or hypoglycemia. The major hormones that are involved in this is the pathway are insulin and glucagon. They are antagonists of each other meaning they have opposite effects when secreted. While reading the slide about how insulin is used to properly uptake glucose, it talks about when the body does not have the proper amount of insulin it is unable to use the glucose. The slide says, “cells essentially starve in the midst of plenty of sugars.” While reading this I could only think of the people who are unfortunately apart of a shipwreck and while stranded at sea they pass away from dehydration. Even though they are surrounded by water, they are unable to drink it because their bodies and especially the kidneys cannot filter that high salt level. This is the same way our bodies reacts when we have had a diet high in sugar for extended periods of time. Our receptors to insulin become worn out and our bodies are unable to breakdown and use glucose. The cells starve in an environment that has all it needs to sustain life they are just unable to use it.

            Diabetes can also cause damage to many different systems. Many healthcare providers are aware of the different forms that diabetic damage can manifest in the body. While shadowing at an ophthalmology clinic, I saw how when a patient came in for their check up the ophthalmologist would be significantly more thorough with their checkups if the patient had a history of diabetes. This is because diabetes would increase their chance of getting cataracts early in life or could severely damage the blood vessels in the retina or the back of the eye. This is called diabetic retinopathy and is one of the leading causes for blindness in the developed world among adults. The damage to these blood vessels in many cases are permanent. Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy are the only way to prevent blindness. Many patients would come into the clinic and have none to mild symptoms of diabetic retinopathy because they were good at controlling their A1C and blood sugar levels. Others had serious complications because they were unable to make the needed changes to their lifestyle and diet to control their diabetes.

            While reviewing diabetes, I was shocked to find that diabetes was among the top ten leading cause of death in 2013. I decided to find some more recent data because we have seen obesity rates climb in recent years and obesity has a strong correlation with diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, in 2022 diabetes was the eighth leading cause of death in the United States with just over a hundred thousand deaths. This fell from the seventh place that it was in not because of better life decisions and dieting but because of COVID-19. Many of the highest listed diseases could all be simplified down to inactive lifestyle and poor diets. As Americans, we love to use our cars and drive wherever we want to go even if it is just down the street. This means that we are missing out on simple exercises that many other countries are gaining. The United States has a car ownership of 900 cars per thousand people. Japan on the other hand has only 800 per thousand individuals. In 2021, Japan also had only fourteen thousand deaths due to diabetes. Diabetes as a cause of death is not even in the top 20 causes of death but is ranked at 25. It is presumptuous to say that one element like driving cars all the time is the primary cause of diabetic deaths, but it is fair to say that many different things are coming together to cause an epidemic in the United States. This is impacting our economy in a major way. In 2012, the cost of diabetes and the strain it puts on the United States was estimated at $245 billion but according to the National Institutes of Health in 2022 it was up to $413 billion. This is $4 billion more than the GDP of Vietnam, a country that is home to almost 100 million people. This is a serious strain on our government who pays for a lot of Medicare and Medicaid. Diabetic ailments also crowd the hospital system with patients who could have avoided many of the issues if they changed their lifestyle. There needs to be a more cost effective treatment and it starts with proper education on individuals’ health.

Diabetes also does not affect individuals in varying socioeconomic levels equally also. Many who come from poor areas of the country have the highest risk of obesity and diabetes. If you overlay the maps of average income and levels of obesity it almost mirrors each other. This is because the more affluent individuals have the ability to buy fresh produce and have disposable income to spend on gyms and trainers. These factors help reduce their risks of developing type II diabetes. But the individuals who are poor often can only afford to eat fast food or prepared and highly processed snacks. These individuals live in areas called food deserts. This means that making it to a store to buy fresh produce is unobtainable due to how far of travel it is to the grocery store. We can see that in the stores it is cheaper to buy soda than it is to buy real fruit juices and healthy option drinks. Many families choose the unhealthy options and increase their risk of diabetes and other obesity linked diseases.

            Sugar in these unhealthy options is also an incredibly addictive substance that can elicit the same response in your brain as cocaine. In my life, I have seen the difficulties that those who have diabetes face. As a kid I would eat copious amounts of sugary desserts and drinks. It hit the point where if I did not stop my habits, I would be looking at becoming diabetic. Cutting the amount of sugar in my diet was hard because somedays it would feel like I was going through withdrawals. As a society, we need to work together to create a lifestyle to limit the prevalence of disease and other obesity-linked diseases in our country. While watching a documentary, a physician was interviewed and said that we need to change the name of our healthcare system to the “sickcare” system. This is because we only treat and help those individuals who are sick, and we do not think about how to keep the healthy patients healthy. This brings us to the solution of ayurveda. Instead of treating only certain parts of the diabetes, we need to focus on the patient as a whole. Proper diet and exercise can be much more effective at treating sicknesses than prescribed medications. To make the needed changes we need to look into their mind and soul and find out why the patient does the things that they do. This will allow us to provide specialized treatment which in turn will hopefully bring better health to the patient. I look forward to the day where diabetes and other lifestyle linked preventable deaths are significantly decreased. This will lessen the strain on our economy and together we will benefit.

Curated Paper 1: Ayurveda and Diabetes - Brenna Fangupo

   Curated Paper: Ayurveda and Diabetes

 Ayurveda being the healing science that helps individuals lead and live a balanced life has been practiced for centuries. Ayurveda “is an ancient system of personalized medicine documented and practiced in India since 1500 B.C.” (Frishman et al.,2009). From this article we learn how practicing ayurveda is a type of complementary alternative medicine that supports ongoing research within the scientific field. It also discusses how ayurveda is the system in which “an individual's basic constitution to a large extent determines predisposition and prognosis to diseases, as well as therapy and lifestyle regime.” (Frishman et al.,2009). The idea of ayurveda being a therapeutic practice and a type of lifestyle that people choose to live gave rise to the idea of India's population. 

    The practice of ayurveda has been practiced before the times of Christ. This thought gave rise to the idea that ayurvedic practices may be beneficial and benefiting the people of India. Making them the largest population in the world. This makes you wonder how their population is flourishing and how the birth  rates are being maintained. This shows how practicing ayurveda is beneficial to our individual lives.

    “Ayurveda is widely practiced on the Indian subcontinent — more than 90 percent of Indians use some form of Ayurvedic medicine, according to the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality & Healing — and the tradition has gained popularity in the Western world, though it's still considered an alternative medical treatment.” (Lallanilla, 2015). Ayurveda is indeed prevalent in India and it goes to show that 90 percent of  India's population inquires and practices ayurveda. This could be a key point in which they are leading in population rates. There was a documentary called “Made in India” and it showcased the lives of Indian women and how they were used for surrogacy because of the success rates. Another reason why people choose an Indian surrogate was because of the cost as well. It was much cheaper in India than it was in the U. S. From here we see how the ayurveda lifestyle can be beneficial where it is contributing to our health, mental state, and spirituality which helps us avoid potential diseases we may fall subject to. 

    Ayurveda “is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, spirit, and environment.” (Worth, 2023). This idea was from a blog and showed how the mind, body, and spirit are interconnected with each other in the environment that they are in. The instances in which I came up with my own ideas were examples. The first is when I thought of how we keep the mind healthy. We do this by meditating and feeding our brains knowledgeable facts and applying to our lives.

     The body stays healthy by doing yoga, exercising, and eating a balanced diet. These are the simple things that keep the mind and body healthy and even these tend to get messy. As for the spiritual side of things it’s our individual beliefs that help us stay spiritually healthy. Being a Christian I believe that through faith and prayer everything is attainable with God’s love. This is important to understand because those who are spiritual tend to forget that there are certain laws that God has set, but yet we still continue to practice the laws of man. This is the mistake that we as people make and it can disturb our spirituality as fellow Christians. 

    The environment we choose to be in  plays a big role in how diseases affect us. Knowing that ayurveda is a practiced technique that lowers the chances of getting a disease shows how our environment can influence us.  The surroundings and the conditions we let become our abode is the same for the people we surround ourselves with. This matters because people have an influence on us, same with our surrounding environment. What others do can change our behavior the more time we spend with them. This is why we are affected by others and their behavior. 

    When someone smokes around you, it increases the chances of getting cancer. “Smoking is the leading cause of premature, preventable death in the U.S., and it is the leading cause of cancer worldwide, causing almost six million deaths each year.” (American Institute for Cancer Research, 2022). From this website the idea of how smoking can affect our lives and even cause death gives life to my idea of how the people we surround ourselves with can influence us. This shows how what they eat, drink, and do rubs off on us every time we allow ourselves to be with a certain set of people. For example, when someone smokes around you, it increases the chances of getting cancer and influences us to eventually try smoking.

    Taking care of our bodies is important and it starts with our metabolism. The metabolic pathways are the chemical reactions that are occurring within our body. It's  happening for a reason, it regulates the human body keeping us alive. These metabolic pathways have to be maintained and controlled for there to be balance. This is why ayurveda and metabolic pathways are interconnected because by practicing ayurveda our metabolism will be maintained and our individual bodies will stay healthy and balanced. 

    The imbalance of ayurveda where the mind, body, spirit and environment are out of place causes problems within our metabolic pathways. According to the national library of medicine “metabolism is the means by which the body derives energy and synthesizes the other molecules it needs from the fats, carbohydrates and proteins we eat as food, by enzymatic reactions helped by minerals and vitamins.” (National Center for Biotechnology Information (US)., 1998). Essentially how we get nutrients to sustain ourselves is through our individual metabolisms. Without it we would be deprived of the nutrients our body needs to function. If our body is not functioning the way it is supposed to we face health problems. These health problems give rise to diseases that could result in death. 

    One disease that occurs due to metabolic issues is diabetes. This imbalance occurs when our beta cells are not producing the hormone insulin or the cells in the body that are supposed to respond to insulin are not doing their job. The levels of glucose in our bodies depend on this and the problems occur when there is an imbalance of hormones. The diabetes slides in class goes over diabetes and how this disease occurs when our body loses control of our glucose levels. A build up of glucose in the bloodstream can cause problems with our health. 

    Insulin and glucagon are the hormones that act as antagonists that control glucose levels. When the levels of insulin are not where it is supposed to be the cells aren't able to metabolize the glucose. This is when we see an increase or buildup of glucose in the bloodstream and this buildup is called hyperglycemia. What happens is that the cells are starving even though there are sugars present. This is where the hormone glucagon sends more sugar into the bloodstream because the insulin levels are imbalanced. Hyperglycemia can be harmful and there are many negative impacts when it occurs. It can cause the impairment of phagocytosis, increased blood pressure, cause weight gain and skin disorders. 

     There are two types of diabetes 1 and 2. Type 1 diabetes can be hereditary and be caused by many different reasons. Viruses,  infections and the use of drugs and chemical toxins can cause type 1 diabetes. There are environmental factors that can cause diabetes as well. Type 2 diabetes could also be hereditary and is due to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There are factors that cannot be controlled such as genetics, age, ethnicity and gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs when women get pregnant. 

    Diabetes is a prevalent disease that is occurring within our society and “excessive food consumption, low quality of life, stress, hormonal factors and  physical  activity levels, become crucial factors for the development of this dyslipidemia.” (Santos et al., 2023). From this peer-reviewed journal we learn that unhealthy lifestyle choices lead to an increased risk of diabetes and to metabolic disorders. Dyslipidemia happens when the levels of lipids and lipoproteins are abnormal; this metabolic disorder happens due to our lifestyles. This idea of how we consume our food, the way we live, our stress levels, hormonal factors and physical activities made me shift thought onto my family and our personal lifestyles. 

    Diabetes is a disease that is hereditary within my family and the amount of relatives within my family that has diabetes is a concern that needs to be addressed. The family members who have diabetes have type 2 diabetes and the main reason why I think we have succumbed to diabetes is because of the cultural change with food and going from active lifestyles to inactive. My grandparents and their siblings moved here when my dad and his siblings were in their teenage years. Being from an island where there was no processed food. This change could cause their body to change in a negative way. With the way food was altered it was more likely to have more sugar, salt and fats. 

    My grandparents gained weight and their health started to decline. They used to harvest their own food by planting it and collecting it themselves. They would also walk and swim on a regular basis, but when they moved to the states their food went from organic to unhealthy foods. The physical activity decreased and a sedentary lifestyle began. What we eat and how active we are physically plays a big role in our lives. Eating right, being stress free, and staying physically active can help us avoid getting diabetes and other diseases too. 

    The disease diabetes happens because of the imbalance of metabolic pathways. There are other complications stemming from the disparity of the metabolism and implementing better choices by practicing ayurveda to keep the mind and body on track can improve our individual lifestyles in a healthier and better way. By being aware of what is causing our diseases we can improve our lives by researching and studying how to include ayurveda in our lives and how metabolic processes are important to understand. This will be beneficial leading our society into a brighter future with less diseases.

                                                                        References

Lallanilla, M. (2015, January 6). Ayurveda: Facts About Ayurvedic Medicine. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/42153-ayurveda.html.

American Institute for Cancer Research. (2022, December 13). Separate cancer myth from cancer fact. https://www.aicr.org/cancer-prevention/healthy-lifestyle/other-lifestyle-risks/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0Oq2BhCCARIsAA5hubVcEfYzM_sxSyebAGTAvVzOUcSjccZ1rxGAivLpnd-fiy4M0seLoCcaAjV8EALw_wcB#1579723955856-4437ecce-54a4.

Cardoso Santos, J. W., Silva de Sousa, G., & Martins Cunha, R. (2023). Effects of high-intensity training on glycemic metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Manual Therapy, Posturology & Rehabilitation Journal, 21, 1–9. https://doi-org.proxy.li.suu.edu:2443/10.17784/mtprehabjournal.2023.21.1275. 

Frishman, W. H., Beravol, P., & Carosella, C. (2009, February 10). Alternative and Complementary Medicine for Preventing and Treating Cardiovascular Disease. Disease a Month, 55(3), 121-192.   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0011502908001594.   

Worth, T. (2023, November 23). What Is Ayurveda? Treatments, Massage, Diet, and More. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/balance/ayurvedic-treatments.