Yogic management for diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus or simply diabetes is a group of metabolic disorder in which person has high blood sugar, either pancreas does not produce enough insulin or because cells do not respond to the insulin. The insulin which is produced by β-cell of the pancreas is not producing enough insulin as a result the volume of sugar in the blood get increase and lead to diabetes. The function of insulin is for carbohydrate metabolism and carry sugar from blood to the cell and maintain the sugar level in the blood. This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increase thirst), and polyphagia (increased hunger). There are lots of medicine for the treatment of diseases which cure for the duration of medication periods but cannot help to cure the disease permanently.
Yoga is the life science also called the yogic therapy which cures the disease if practice regularly twice a day. Diabetes often disappears in a week and does not recur at all after two or three months of continued treatment. The abdominal viscera, the pancreas and the liver and kidney are toned up by yogic therapy by increasing intra-abdominal pressure and activate of the nerves which control these organs. Paschimottaasana is the important asanas which stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin. When you maintain your body in Paschimottasana with normal breathing, the stomach gets compress and pancreas located behind the intestine also get a nice massage in this posture and makes pancreas healthier. And the next practices is Ardhra Matchyandra and Varkaasana is a twisting practice from the upper part where pancreas and stomach small intestine and increase circulation of blood in the endocrine glands and provide an environment for β-cell to produce enough insulin for proper functioning. Halaasana which is practices for healthy endocrine glands. In the final postures of Halasana, the large intestine compress the small intestine and also pancreas get a beautiful working environment for producing enough insulin for metabolism. Likewise, Mayurasana which has a direct effect on pancreas which provides pressure on the pancreas so stimulate it and also provide oxygen to the pancreas. There are some other practices also which is fruitful for diabetes people.
Likewise, Dhanurasana which has directly activate the sluggish to work properly. It compresses all the abdominal internal muscles and the pressure activates the pancreas. The pancreas is situated deep inside the abdominal cavity. The Dhanurasana tightens all abdominal muscles and by increasing the intra-abdominal pressure, reach the pancreas. This asana also helps to activate nerves of that regions.
Diabetes also occurs due to obese. When more fat and muscles deposited in the stomach it pushes pancreas so pancreas cannot work its function properly and goes to the crying of the pancreas. So some more asana is needed to reduce unnecessary fats from the stomach. Some practices like jogging, jumping, twisting, setup.
Only doing asana cure the disease at the slow rate. The breathing techniques practices with asanas provide the faster healing of the disease. For diabetes patient Naddhisuddhi, right nostril breathing techniques are practices and research show the good result and faster cure by daily practices of asana plus pranayama.
Oxygen is very much essential for the utilization of carbohydrate metabolism. If lungs provide enough oxygen to the pancreas so that it works effectively. Nadisuddhi directly affects the pancreas and the liver. During Nadisuddhi the diaphragm moves up and down under air pressure exerted by the lungs and compress the liver and the pancreas and provide adequate oxygen supply to the tissues. It provides a nice environment to rejuvenate the nerve supply to the pancreas.
There are various types of diabetes. Sometimes, diabetes occurs due to the disorder of the endocrine disorder. It means the main reason for diabetes may be due to thyroid or pituitary dysfunction. Though there is no defect in the pancreas, the amount of insulin is not producing. So this happens because of malfunction of endocrine to secrete the hormones properly. If we treat with asanas and pranayama which influence the thyroid gland to provide an environment to secret insulin and sugar excretion decreases.
Likewise, the next practices like Uddiyaana and Nauli are two kriyas which have very positive effect in diabetes mellitus. It is the movement of the stomach which gives strength to the body and also excess fats are removed. This practices influence all the abdominal viscera and remove the defect of the pancreas by activating them effectively. The pancreas and liver rejuvenated and diabetes disappears completely.
Thus, these are the practices for diabetes mellitus which can completely eradicate disorder with a guarantee of non-reoccurrence. It should be practice for 6 months to one year to eradicate the disease from the body and to leave a healthy and happy life.
Here are the main practice of yoga for diabetes.
- Paschimottan Asana
- Ardha Padma Paschimottan Asana
- Ardha Matsyendra Asana
- Meru Bakra Asana
- Mayur Asana
- Agnishar Kriya
- Nauli Kriya
- Kunjal Kriya
- Uddiyaana banda
- Nadi Sodhana pranayam
- Kapal Bhati Pranayam
- Some yogic jogging like jumping, twisting, setup etc.
Yogic diet for diabetes
The diet of diabetes should content all the essential nutrition for the management of carbohydrate absorption. Balanced Nutrition is necessary for diabetes people to slow down the carbohydrate absorbtion rate in the blood. Sattwick food which includes milk and yogurt, Bread, cereal, rice, fruits, starchy green vegetables like corn and beans are very beneficial as it helps in digestion and also control blood sugar. Fiber based food helps to lose weight. And three times meal in a day recommended. All the non-veg items are strictly prohibited. Complex carbohydrates are better because they take longer time to digest also gives you steady energy and fiber.