Ayurveda has 20 types of Type 2 Diabetes listed in Charaka Samhita, corresponding to Kapha (10 – Pre-Diabetes), Kapha-Pitta (6 – Early to Mature Diabetes) and Vata (4 – Diabetes with Complications). The texts also cover the following (list not exhaustive):
- Prodromal Signs & Symptoms up to Complications
- How to treat insulin resistance- cellular cleansing (autophage) through langhana (diet+exercise)
- Obesity and Diabetes- role of adiponectin, obesogenic factors
- Metabolism- Overload, Dysregulation, Dysbiosis
- Oxidative stress
- Cross Talk: Comorbidities
- Maternal Inheritance
Ayurveda approach also adequately covers the existence of complex disease pathways which can be unique, considering various variables (patient health, history, comorbidities, current symptoms) – hence encourages a whole person, systemic assessment to identify the right plan for care.This factor has been recently highlighted by multiple modern medicine journals such as “Painting a new picture of personalised medicine for Diabetes by Mark I. McCarthy, 2016”
“Kupitanam hi doshanam sharire paridhavatam | Yatra sanga kha vaigunyat vyadhi tatra upajayat”
The aggravated and the imbalanced doshas, by the virtue of aberrations of ahara (diet), vihara (lifestyle), agantuka hetu (external factors), manasika hetu or due to nidanaarthakara rogas (comorbidities) circulate in the body and lodge/accumulate in the weakest organ of the body and lead to disease.
The imbalance of doshas and the course they follow to cause disease is termed as samprapti or pathogenesis/disease pathway. Since diseases develop in distinct stages, a good knowledge of the stages helps in early diagnosis of disease in its early stage.
Ayurveda thus elaborates a six-stage process for diagnosis called Kriya (action) Kala (time). The first 4 stages are unique to Ayurveda in which they allow the physician to assess and diagnose before it advances to further stages and complications. Prediabetes is an intermediate form of dysglycemia on a spectrum ranging from normal to over diabetes. Ayurveda quotes following signs as the Premonitory signs of Prameha- initial stage of a disease before it manifests into subtypes and progresses to Madhumeha upadrava – complications of diabetes.
Prediabetes is an intermediate form of dysglycemia on a spectrum ranging from normal to overt diabetes. Ayurveda quotes following signs as the Premonitory signs of Prameha- initial stage of a disease before it manifests into subtypes and progresses to Madhumeha upadrava – complications of diabetes