With a little over one in seven people suffering from diabetes globally being from India, according to the latest estimates from the International Diabetes Foundation, these sobering facts should motivate us to take the metabolic disease more seriously and convince us to make appropriate lifestyle changes.
Getting oneself checked regularly as a part of early diagnostic for diabetes can be a good start. However, this is easier said than done. Thankfully, homeopathy might have some answers, whether you are prone to or already afflicted by diabetes.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that increases the blood sugar levels in the body. A person can develop diabetes when there is less or no production of insulin in the body. This can in turn lead to various other health problems such as insomnia, stress, fluctuating blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetic retinopathy, skin infections and kidney damage.
Types of diabetes
Type 1 is caused when the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Children are more prone to this type of diabetes than adults, but it is known to affect people of any age.
Type 2 is caused due to poor lifestyle choices, lack of exercise, increasing age and obesity.
Gestational diabetes (GD) affects pregnant women since the placenta produces excess hormones to sustain pregnancy. This leads to glucose making its home in the person’s blood. If left untreated, it may affect the unborn baby’s nervous system, cause congenital heart diseases and malformed skeletal muscles.
Symptoms of diabetes
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Itchy skin
- Frequent urination
- Excessive weight loss
- Increased hunger
How does homeopathy work?
Homeopathy treats a person as a whole and a full body examination is done before prescribing any remedial methods. A person is examined with case analysis that includes medical history, physical as well as mental health aspects. A miasmatic tendency, which means predisposition, is also considered for the selecting a remedy.
The therapy is said to rely on the healing forces of nature. Unlike modern medicine, homeopathy does not offer an instant remedy to bring sugar levels in control.
However, Dr Hemlatha LM, Ayush medical officer at Taluk General Hospital, Bhadravati, Shivamogga district, says homeopathy can also work fast in acute cases. She says that homeopathic remedies contain extracts of plants, animals, minerals, metals and imponderabilia — certain homeopathic remedies that are prepared from natural forces such as solar or lunar rays or magnetism and cannot be weighed or measured.
“Homeopathy is helpful for both type-1 and type-2 diabetes cases. However, in homeopathy there is no substitute for insulin,” says Dr Hemlatha.
A retrospective study found that when homeopathic approach is taken along with the conventional treatment, the blood glucose levels can be better controlled.
Experts say that as with modern medicine, homeopathy too suggests exercising regularly, eating smaller meals at regular intervals and sleep for 7 to 9 hours.
Does it offer a solution?
Though this line of treatment has been in use for decades, there has not been enough research to prove its efficacy. And since there is very little evidence to show how much homeopathic treatments work or even if they work at all, the medical fraternity widely depends on conventional scientific methods for diabetes management.
In a study published in the Indian Journal of Research in Homeopathy in 2014, the use of black plum or `jamun’ (Syzgium jambolanum) on animals showed promising results in controlling blood sugar levels. However, tests on humans with type 2 diabetes did not give the desired results.
Another research conducted by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia, in 2015 did not find any conclusive evidence about the efficacy of treating diabetes with homeopathy medicine.
Dr Hemlatha says there is no substitute for insulin in homeopathy, but homeopathic medicine can be used as a co-therapy for managing diabetes. Since this stream of medicine works on other health conditions of a diabetic, there are no serious adverse effects, she says.
People are always on the lookout for a natural and simple way of healing themselves — and diabetes is an illness where they can take a holistic approach to staying healthy. But in the absence of scientific corroborations, the bottom line is this: Do not give up your modern medicine treatment of diabetes, and always consult your doctor before opting for homeopathy or any other route.
