The complications of diabetes mellitus are far less common and less severe in people who have well-controlled blood sugar levels. As diabetes is a metabolic disorder and chronic in most cases, its complications can effectively be minimized through proper diet maintenance and by following a proper medication routine. Health problems including smoking, elevated cholesterol levels, obesity, high blood pressure, and lack of regular exercise accelerate the deleterious effects of diabetes.

If not controlled, diabetes can put you at risk for a host of complications that can affect nearly every organ in the body. They include:

The heart and blood vessels
The eyes
The kidneys
The nerves
The gums and teeth

In addition, people with diabetes also have a higher risk of developing infections. These complications are broadly divided into microvascular (due to damage to small blood vessels) and macrovascular (due to damage to larger blood vessels).

Signs and Symptoms

Diabetes and the Eyes:

It can cause several eye problems, some of which can lead to blindness if not addressed. The eye disorders include:

Glaucoma: Pressure build-up in the eye, which damages optic nerves, leading to Vision loss.
Cataracts: The eye’s clear lens clouds, blocking light. This leads to problems driving at night such as glare from oncoming headlights, problems with glare during the day, and Double vision while looking through the eye with a cataract (like a superimposed image). Sudden changes in glasses prescription.
Diabetic retinopathy: Typical symptoms of retinopathy include: Sudden changes in vision, Blurred vision, Pain in the eye, seeing spots, Loss of vision, Double vision, Floaters in your vision, and Night vision loss.

Heart disease and Diabetes:

Caused by partial or total narrowing or blocking of the blood vessels by fatty deposits to your heart, leading to a heart attack – when the blood supply to your heart is reduced or cut off.

Kidney Disease and Diabetes:

High levels of blood sugar can put extra stress on the kidneys. After years of damage, the kidneys start to leak useful proteins in the urine, leading to a condition known as microalbuminuria. When kidney disease is diagnosed later, during macroalbuminuria, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) usually follows.
Kidneys lose their filtering ability.
Waste products begin to build up in the blood. Finally, the kidneys fail.

Diabetes and Nerves (Diabetic Neuropathy):

High blood glucose damages blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves, thereby impairing the nerves’ ability to transmit signals. Symptoms of neuropathy include numbness and sometimes pain in the hands, feet, or legs. Nerve damage is caused by internal organs such as the digestive tract, heart, and sexual organs, causing indigestion, diarrhea or constipation, dizziness, bladder infections, and impotence. In some cases, neuropathy can flare up suddenly, causing weakness and weight loss. Depression may follow.

Diabetes in Ayurveda is called Madhumeha in ayurvedic classics. The disease is dealt with prabhuta (excessive) frequency and turbidity of urine. The disease is the result of the increased function of vata either as a result of excessive tissue depletion (Dhatu kshaya janya Madhumeha) or as a result of obstruction of channels of circulation (Avaarana janya madhumeha). In any of these forms, the increased vata brings down the anabolic tissue elements to be shed as waste in the urine. This leads to depletion of the necessary tissues in the body leading to many complications of Diabetes mellitus in the long run. The causative factors (nidana), dosa(vata, pitta & kapha), and dusya (improper tissue elements) are vitiated to a higher degree the complication manifests, thus in diabetic patients’ maintenance of the nidana, dosa, and dusya in their normalcy is targeted.

To prevent the onset of complications in most patients & preventing the worsening of complications will be the aim.

Ayurveda Treatment for Diabetes Complications

AyurVAID’s treatment modality for preventing diabetes complications is to treat the root cause of diabetes so that the further manifestation of complications could be prevented; as the pathology for all complications involves the pathological constraints of diabetes itself on a larger scale. So the internal medications and therapies, if judiciously administered after assessing the diabetes mellitus patient’s clinical condition, can help prevent further progression into complications or postpone the onset of them. Along with these the proper Diet, exercise, and yogic practices can all benefit, helping to counteract the disease from different angles.

Therapies like Yapana Vasti (medicinal enema) and Dhāra (pouring of medicinal liquid in a particular fashion), and detoxification procedures like Vamana & Virechana (procedural induction of vomiting and loose motion) to control the disease from the root. So a patient with diabetes mellitus who undergoes the above procedures at intervals can lead a life free from complications of diabetes and also the complications. If manifested, treatment towards the same could bring satisfactory improvement in quality of life. Netra tarpana (pouring) for retinopathy changes (procedure of pouring medicated oil over closed eyes), abhyanga (massage), lepa (application of medicated paste over the body), and Seka (pouring of medicated liquid over the body) for neuropathy changes, and Yapana Vasti (medicinal enema) for nephropathy changes are employed.

All these treatment procedures every 3 or 6 months once based on the severity and continued intake of oral medications to counteract blood sugar levels and preventive medications for diabetes complications along with proper diet exercises all aid in controlling diabetes adding life to the years in a diabetic patient.

Treatment specific information-

The nature of the disease necessitates a long-run treatment protocol with continuous internal medications and regular therapies. The patient needs to be on Achara Rasayana (behavioral rejuvenations) naimittikarasayana (rejuvenation therapy specific to the disease like the use of shilajit, loha, etc) during the convalescence also.

Our Approach

AyurVAID’s treatment modality for preventing diabetes complications is to treat the root cause of diabetes so that the further manifestation of complications could be prevented as the pathology for all complications involves the pathological constraints of diabetes itself on a larger scale. So the internal medications and therapies, if judiciously administered after assessing the diabetes mellitus patient’s clinical condition, can help prevent further progression into complications or postpone the onset of them. Along with these the proper Diet, exercise, and yogic practices can all benefit, helping to counteract the disease from different angles. This approach is followed by our hospitals in Bangalore (Karnataka), Kochi (Ernakulam, Kerala), and Kalmatia in the Himalayas (Almora, Uttarakhand) in India.

Therapies like Yapana Vasti (medicinal enema) and Dhāra (pouring of medicinal liquid in a particular fashion), and detoxification procedures like Vamana & Virechana (procedural induction of vomiting and loose motion) to control the disease from the root. So a patient with diabetes mellitus if undergoes the above procedures at intervals can lead a life free from complications of diabetes and also the complications. If manifested, treatment towards the same could bring satisfactory improvement in quality of life. Netra tarpana for retinopathy changes (procedure of pouring medicated oil over closed eyes), abhyanga, lepa (application of medicated paste over the body), and seka (pouring of medicated liquid over the body) for neuropathy changes, and Yapana Vasti (medicinal enema) for nephropathy changes are employed.

Diagnosis and Lab Investigations:

Testing-

Testing is extremely important to determine the stage of the disease and in the selection of appropriate treatment options. Diabetes complications can be postponed if early monitoring of the blood sugar levels to normal or near normal levels is encouraged. Testing can include blood tests and/or Doppler such as:

Investigations towards diabetes status:

FBS- fasting blood glucose
PPBS- Post prandial blood glucose
OGTT- oral glucose tolerance test
HBA1C- Glycosylated Haemoglobin
Fasting lipid profile (LDL, HDL, triglycerides)

1. Diabetic Nephropathy: –

Urine albumin/ microalbumin levels
Serum creatinine
Blood urea
GFR- Glomerular Filtration Rate
Serum electrolytes- sodium, potassium

2.Diabetic Retinopathy:

Fundoscopy
Vision acuity tests

3.Diabetic Neuropathy:

Blood Pressure
Nerve conduction Study
EMG
Biothesiometer for assessment of various sensations.

4.Diabetic Cardiomyopathy:

ECG
Echo cardiography

5.Diabetic Carbuncles and Ulcers:

Ankle-brachial pressure index
Doppler probe
Doppler duplex arterial scanning
Arteriography

Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness among those who are diabetic, is also known as the silent thief as there are no symptoms until one day the sufferer notices a loss in peripheral vision or till a doctor notice it through an eye examination.

The second-biggest cause of blindness in the world, Glaucoma is a condition that is associated with a group of eye diseases that damage your optic nerve and gets worse over time if not treated.

But blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment. And Ayurveda treatment of Glaucoma has been proven the best to date. With our pioneering Diabetes and Shalakya programs, AyurVAID offers effective Ayurveda treatment, providing substantial relief.

Ayurveda treatment at AyurVAID is natural and does not have any side effects. Apart from controlling the blurriness of your vision, it can also completely cure you from this disease. With glaucoma treatment in Ayurveda, you can be sure of 100% results. We offer customized solutions with a clear presentation of potential outcomes. Adopting a diet, lifestyle, medicine, and therapy approach, the AyurVAID treatment regime is inclusive of various Ayurveda procedures such as Thalam and Shirodhara among others.

Our Outcome

Ensures better quality of life.
Prevents the onset of complications if the disease process had not set in.
Prevents the worsening of an already initiated disease process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the risk factors for diabetic complications?

The important time-related variables were found to be the duration of diabetes for retinopathy, the age for macrovascular disease, the duration and age at diagnosis of diabetes for sensory neuropathy, and the age for renal impairment. Positive independent associations between diabetic control (glycosylated hemoglobin) and retinopathy and between diabetic control and macrovascular disease are seen. Plasma cholesterol (positively) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (negatively) were related independently to both macrovascular disease and renal impairment. High blood pressure: That means blood pressure over 140/90, Low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides, Gestational diabetes. If you had diabetes while you were pregnant, you had gestational diabetes. This raises your chances of getting type 2 diabetes later in life, Sedentary lifestyle. You exercise less than three times a week, Family history. You have a parent or sibling who has diabetes, Polycystic ovary syndrome. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher risk, Lifestyle modifications such as weight control increased physical exercise, and smoking cessation are also potentially beneficial in preventing diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

Can diabetic complications be reversed?

Progressed diabetes can cause structural and functional changes in the human body, most of them permanent. Cells like neurons are incapable of regeneration, so diabetic complications such as neuropathy (damage to nerves) are most likely to stay lifelong. Yet, some symptoms may be presented with reduced intensity if blood sugar levels are managed well. Ayurveda offers you ways to curb diabetes and help the body heal by itself. Treatment like Rasayana chikitsa acts on subtle levels and enhances the rejuvenation process. Proper treatment, appropriate medication based on the tolerance of the patient and the disease, cleansing therapies, and precautionary measures can go a long way in managing diabetes-related complications.

When should I be bothered about a diabetic coma?

A diabetic coma is a lethal unconscious state caused by either extremely high or extremely low blood pressure. It is an emergency health condition that requires thorough medical attention. If you have diabetes, poorly managed blood glucose levels, not taking medicines timely, skipping meals, and chronic alcoholism can act as the triggering factors for diabetic coma. Coma induced by hyperglycemia (high glucose in the blood) is a possible health hazard if your sugar levels are past 300 mg/dL continuously for a long time. Periodic monitoring of diabetes, taking medicines, following dinacharya (Ayurvedic day-to-day regimen), practicing purificatory therapies like Panchakarma, following pathya (compatible foods), regular yoga, etc are some of the ways you can minimize the chances of diabetic coma.

Can Yoga affect blood sugar levels?

Yoga is an efficient yet affordable measure when it comes to controlling glucose levels. It is never a complete cure, but recent studies have shown that Yoga has a significant hand in lowering stress-related hyperglycemia. The stretching postures (asanas) are thought to be fruitful in stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas. Yoga boosts metabolism and promotes weight loss. Along with mindful practices like pranayama, it lowers stress and anxiety, helping the person lead a tranquil life with a healthy mind. All these factors can aid in keeping diabetes away.

Medical Case Studies

Diabetic Neuropathy

A 46 year old male of Indian origin, a known case of Diabetes Mellitus since 16 years

Non Healing Diabetic Wound

Presenting Complaint Multiple non-healing wounds on left leg

Shalakya - 4

A 34years old male c/o severe redness and burning sensation in his eyes. Patient

Uncontrolled Diabetes with Peripheral Neuropathy

Presenting Complaint Tiredness High Severity since 6 months

Uncontrolled Diabetes with Peripheral Neuropathy and Autonomous Neuropathy

Presenting Complaints Elevated blood sugar levels-high severity, since 20 years

Voice of Patients

Uncontrolled body movement; Foot, Wrist pain; Chronic body disorder

Before Treatment: I was suffering with uncontrolled body movement; foot, wrist pain; and chronic body...

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Diabetes Complications (Neuropathy, Retinopathy, Nephropathy, Ulcers)