Early Symptoms of Diabetes:
Diabetes can be cured effectively if diagnosed in early stage. You can prevent the complications if treated immediately. But, it is difficult to know if you are not aware of the early signs of diabetes. Following are some signs and symptoms of diabetes.

Frequent urination: In diabetes, glucose levels increase in urine and blood. Because of high urine sugar levels, frequency of urinnation increase.

Increase in hunger: Glucose cannot enter into cells from blood stream during diabetes. As glucose is necessary for producing energy, a person may get exhausted quickly. As a result, one may feel increase in hunger.

Unexplained weight loss: Though hunger increases, a person may experience unexplained weight loss. Because of lack of cellular energy, your body will start breaking down muscular fats and proteins, resulting in weight loss.

Fatigue: As energy levels decrease, a person may feel constant tiredness and fatigue. Also, a person may feel sleepy after meals.

Infections: Another important warning of diabetes is frequent skin infections or urinary tract infections. A person with diabetes becomes more vulnerable to fungal or bacterial infections.

Nervous system: High glucose levels in blood can damage nervous system. Because of diabetic neuropathy, one can experience tingling or numbness in feet, legs or hands.

Dental problems: Diabetes can increase the risk of gum infections. Gums may become tender, swollen and red.

Blurred vision: High blood sugar levels can result in blurred vision. If left untreated, it can result in serious eye damage like blindness.

Itchy or dry skin: As the blood glucose levels increase, they draw away fluid from the skin cells. This results in dry skin, which in turn causes intense itching.

These early signs of diabetes must not be neglected. You must get the condition treated immediately to prevent further complications.

complications of diabetes

that are more dangerous than diabetes. Read through the below lines to know more about the short term and long term complications of uncontrolled diabetes.

Complications of Diabetes:

Diabetes is categorized into two types – Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. One must remember that no signs or complications can be observed in the initial stage. Thus, people often misunderstand that they’re immune to diabetes complications. Complications may develop slowly and even take 10 years or a decade for developing.

Short term complications include low sugar or hypoglycemia. This is the most common complication in diabetics. It develops if one takes excess amount of insulin, resulting in low sugar. Sweating, dizziness, confusion, etc are the signs of hypoglycemia. The person may also get unconsciousness if suffering from low sugar levels. It also develops if the person fasts or starves for a long period. Other causes include not having proper diet, failing to take insulin dosage or food on time.

As compared to long term complications, hypoglycemia is a mild condition. In long term complications of diabetes, most vital organs such as nerves, eyes, kidneys and heart get affected because of uncontrolled diabetes. This condition can affect feet and gums as well. Below is a list of complications which develop because of diabetes:

Kidneys:

• Kidney failure
• Diabetic nephropathy
• Other kidney diseases

Heart:

• Coronary heart disease
• Arteriosclerosis
• Blocking of blood vessels
• Heart attack

Nerves:

• Stroke
• Diabetic neuropathy

Gums:

• Poor blood circulation to gums
• Tooth decay
• Periodontal disease

Eyes:

• Corneal diseases
• Cataract
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic retinopathy

Reproductive system:

• Disorders in childbirth and pregnancy
• Disinterest
• Erectile dysfunction

Feet:

• Peripheral neuropathy
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Gangrene

Skin:

• Skin infections
• Ulcers
• Boils

Infections:

• Risk of respiratory infections
• Risk of bacterial and viral infections
• Infections in wounds

Prevention of Complications of Diabetes:

One must remember that children and adults all alike are prone to diabetes complications. Controlling diabetes is the only alternative to prevent these complications. You must check your diet and must have only diabetic diet which controls diabetes. Fats, sugar and refined carbohydrates must be avoided. You must have fiber rich foods such as fruits and vegetables. Those suffering from diabetes must regularly exercise. To avoid foot problems, you must not wear tight fitting shoes. Weak immune system can develop diabetes complications in children. Hence, children must be kept away from the infectious diseases.

How to Control Diabetes with Bitter Gourd?

• Firstly select firm bitter gourds with no or few skin blemishes. It must measure about 5 – 12 inches long and must be either in the color of yellow-orange or green. The yellow-orange variety is not that bitter, but it has less powerful properties which lets the juice of bitter melon for controlling diabetes.
• Choose an Asian variety which are available from April – September.
• You can store bitter melon in a plastic or paper bag. Each bitter gourd must be free from netting or rubber bands. You can store them for about 3 – 5 days.
• You must wash the bitter melons in cool water.
• Slice them well in such a way that the insides are exposed well.
• Use tablespoon to remove the seeds of bitter melon.
• Extract juice from bitter gourds by blending them in a juicing machine. You must use 4 – 5 melons to get a glass of juice.
• In the morning, drink a small glass of bitter gourd juice with an empty stomach. If it consumed on an empty stomach, the juice accelerate the curative properties and thus controls diabetes.
• Bitter melon juice must be continued for a period of 3 – 5 months.

However, people should avoid fruit concentrates and fruit juices as they contain lot of sugar. Moreover, fruit juices don’t provide any dietary fiber. Following is a list of fruits for diabetic patients.

Fruits for Diabetic Patients:

Most people think that fruits are not good for diabetic patients. This is not true completely. Some fruits that are rich in fat content and sugar content may increase blood glucose levels. But fruits that are a good source of proteins, vitamins and minerals and have less sugar content are best. Fruits that are rich in fiber content must also be consumed in limited quantities. Following are the best fruits for diabetic patients.

• Avocado
• Cherries
• Lime
• Olives
• Kiwifruit
• Pears
• Apricots
• Pomegranates
• Blueberries
• Grapefruit
• Rose apple
• Apple
• Papaya
• Watermelon
• Plums
• Strawberries
• Muskmelon

Fruits Diabetic Patients must Avoid:

The above mentioned fruits can be consumed by the diabetics. However, a diabetic must avoid certain fruits because they contain high sugar and fat content. Following are some fruits that must be avoided by a diabetic:

• Peach
• Custard apple
• Grapes
• Mango
• Banana

The glycemic index and sugar content of these fruits is relatively high and hence, it is better if they stay away from these fruits. Diabetic patients must avoid fruit juices as they do not contain enough fibers and thus are useless for diabetics.

Here we are giving top 3 yoga poses for diabetes. So, practice these exercises and keep diabetes away.

Mandukasana (The Frog pose)

Steps

:- i) Sit in Vajrasana (diamond pose).
ii) Close your fists.
iii) Now exhale forcefully.
iv) Then with closed fists press the abdomen and bend forward.
v) After 30 seconds return to normal and inhale deeply.

Benefits

:- By practicing the Frog pose regularly, more insulin is formed thus raised sugar levels are reduced. Polyurea is also cured.

Paschimotasana (The forward seated bend)

Steps

:- i) Sit comfortably on a yoga mat with outstretching the legs in front.
ii) Exhale completely and bend ahead to touch the knees.
iii) Hold the toes with your fingers. Remain in this position for a few seconds and when you return to the original position inhale deeply.
iv) Repeat this pose 2-3 times.

Benefits

: By practicing this pose regularly, diabetes is controlled and raised sugar levels are lowered. Pancreas is stimulated effectively to secrete more insulin. The functioning of kidneys and liver is improved.

Mayurasana (The peacock pose)

Steps

:- i) Lie on your abdomen.
ii) With the support of the palms on the floor, and your abdomen resting on your two elbows, lift the whole body above the ground. The whole body rests balanced on your hands and it remains parallel to the ground.
iii) After few seconds come back to your normal position.

Benefits

: In the beginning this pose may seem to be difficult. But with regular practice it becomes very easy.This pose cures stomach problems. Digestion is also improved. Since abdomen is pressed, pancreas is activated and more insulin is produced. Hence it is very useful for diabetes control.

IMPORTANT

: Learn and practice these poses in the guidance of a good Yoga instructor.

A study published in the Journal of Medical Association on 23rd January 2008 revealed that obesity surgery can help slow down or even cure diabetes. Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to either produce or use the amounts of insulin in the body. About 21 million children and grown ups in the United States are said to be suffering from this chronic disease. Obesity on the other hand, is an epidemic that has already engulfed about 1/3 of the population in the United States.

Obesity surgery targets at making the stomach small to avoid overeating. The doctors therefore reduce the size of the stomach to degree where only one ounce of food can be held in it. The results are effective in losing body weight where people having undergone the obesity surgery are reported to lose weight continuously for about 1 and a half to 2 years. Sometimes obese people can lose as much as 100 pounds.

The study was conducted on 60 obese patients suffering with type 2 diabetes in Australia. From among the 55 who completed the entire follow-up treatment, about 72% of them confirmed a control on diabetes. Researchers further claimed that the study helped in proving that obesity surgery helped in checking diabetes as compared to any other traditional therapy.

Dhanurasana

In sanskrit, “dhanus” stands for “bow”; and “dhanurasana” is the “bow-like posture”. In this posture, your body will resemble a tightly drawn bow.

1. Lie on your belly with hands on the sides of your body. Let the palms face up.
2. Exhale, and bend your knees as much as you can. Try bringing your heels as close as you can to your buttocks. Without widening the knees too much, catch hold of your ankle.
3. Inhale and lift your thighs away from the floor. Bend your head, chest and neck backwards. You will be in a bow-like posture. 
4. Hold your breath for 5 seconds and then breathe out.  
5. As you exhale, pull your legs backward.

Paschimottanasana

( seated forward bend) literally means “stretch of the west”. It was practiced by yogis early in the morning, facing the sun.

1. While sitting, stretch your legs straight in front of you and keep them close to each other.
2. Exhale. Try to touch your feet by slowly bending forward. See to it that you do not bend your knees. Focus on bringing the chest forward and not on bringing head to the ground.

Some other postures effective in controlling diabetes are:  Padangusthansana (Standing crane, Nindra kokkuasana), Bhujangasana (Serpent pose, Paambuasana), Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand), Ardha-matsyendrasana (Spinal twist), Halasana (Plough pose, Kalapoy asana), Yoga mudrasana (Yogic Symbol pose), Supta Vajrasana (Sitting pose of Firmness), Chakrasana (Wheel pose) and Shalabhasana (Grasshopper pose, Vittelasana).

The following kinds of yoga can be helpful for diabetes patients:

1. Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar): This is a very good exercise for people suffering from diabetes. It increases the blood supply and improves insulin levels in the body. It should be practiced at 4 rounds per minute.

2. Asanas: Yoga poses or asanas are also beneficial for treating diabetes. Asanas like Dhanurasana (Bow pose in prone position), Vajrasana Yoga Mudra, Ardhamatsyendrasana (Half spinal twist), , Pavan Muktasana, Sarvangasana, Matsyasana and Halasana are useful in diabetes. These asanas have aid insulin functioning and have a positive effect on the pancreas. But you need to maintain the asana for longer durations while relaxing the muscles, to get the desired results.

3. Pranayama: In Hatha Yoga, there are 8 types of Pranayama. The technique of alternate nostril breathing, practised in prayanama is useful in diabetes as this has a calming effect on the nervous system and reduces stress levels. Bhramari and Bhasrika Pranayama has been found to be helpful in diabetes. But before practicing these Pranayama, you need to learn deep breathing, fast breathing, alternate nostril breathing and bandhas (chin lock, moola bandha and abdominal lock) from an expert guru. Pranayama should be practiced under the guidance of a Yoga Guru.

4. Yoga Nidra: It is process of deep relaxation that helps to alleviate the stress and benefits the entire body and mind.

5. Meditation: Meditation is useful for managing stress. It gives a relaxed and concentrated state of mind by calming the nervous system. Meditation is useful for almost all kinds of diseases.

6. Cleansing Processes: Shankha Prakshalana or master cleansing is recommended for diabetes. The complete version of Shankha Prakshalana takes 1 day and should be done once in 6 months, but smaller versions can be done 3 times a week. This process is helpful for cleansing the Gastro Intestinal tract completely. But this should be practiced under expert guidance and observation of medical professionals.