What is Diabetes (Mellitus)?
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition in which the body either cannot produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels by allowing glucose to enter the cells for energy. Without proper insulin function, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream, leading to elevated blood sugar levels, which can cause various health problems over time. In people with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin causes hyperglycemia. Diabetes can be both autoimmune and metabolic disorder, depending on the type.
Stress is Speed: When the mind is agitated during our interaction with the world at large, physical body follows in the same path. These agitations cause violent fluctuations in the flow of Prana (Vital force) in the Nadis (Energy channel). After few years of this disturbance, it results in disturbed immune and autonomic function. This is Psychosomatic (Disease from mind to the body).
Hereditary?
This cannot be beginningless. Somewhere it had started. And somewhere down the line it can be stopped. The excuse of “hereditary”, and “we cannot do anything” is outdated.
There are three main types
of diabetes
- Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes also called as Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) or Juvenile diabetes. The immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The body makes little, or no insulin production and daily injections of insulin are required to sustain life.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. It is primarily a hormonal and metabolic disorder. In this type, the body becomes resistant to insulin (a hormone) or does not produce enough insulin to manage blood sugar levels effectively. It is related to factors such as obesity, lifestyle, genetics, and metabolic health. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it.
- Gestational Diabetes: This occurs due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. The hormones produced by the placenta can make cells more resistant to insulin, leading to higher blood sugar levels. This develops any time during pregnancy in a person who does not have diabetes, and it does increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Causes and Symptoms of Diabetes:
- Causes for type 1: Heredity and autoimmunity
- Causes for type 2: Stress, lifestyle, heredity, overweight, lifestyle and age.
- Symptoms for type 1: Increased thirst, increased urination, vomiting, fatigue and weight loss.
- Symptoms for type 2: Increased thirst, increased urination, vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, blurred vision, slow healing infections and impotence in men.
Yogic Management
Diabetes cannot be managed by medicines alone. In fact, 50% of people don’t need medicines, changes in lifestyle plays an important role in managing diabetes. Diabetes is an (Non-Communicable Disease (NCD). We can understand that diabetes is a Ādhija Vyādhi (Vyādhi= bodily disease, Ja= born out of, Ādhi= mental unrest).
In yoga therapy point of view, we have to treat diabetes in a Pancha kosha system to bring harmony in all 5 bodies/sheaths.
- Annamaya kosha: Dynamic exercises, Surya namaskara, Asana practices (twisting asanas are very helpful), Laghu shanka prakshalana kriya will help to save the hypoglycemic condition. Practicing Agni sara daily helps to improve the blood flow to pancreas. Balanced diet and moderation in eating is important. Eat with mindfulness.
- Pranamaya kosha: Stress is the main cause of imbalance in the prana. Pranayama like Vibhagya pranayama (sectional breathing), Kapalabhati, Nadi suddhi and bhramari will be helpful.
- Manomaya kosha: Yoga is mastery over the mind. Practicing deep relaxation technique (DRT) with awareness. The devotional sessions like mantra chanting, satsang, bhajans etc., brings emotional control stabilizing the personality.
- Vijnanamaya kosha: The intellect and the five sense of perception. Knowledge burns the strong attachments, desires, likes and dislikes, obsession, anger and ego which are basic reasons of agitation of mind. Yogic counseling is extremely helpful in overcoming negative emotions and correcting behavior.
- Anandamaya kosha: Practice of Karma yoga. No need to join any ashram to do this. Doing your own work with relaxation, dedication, honesty and enjoying is Karma yoga. Helping in the house chores is Karma yoga. In short, action without desires is what brings inner silence and equipoise at the mental level and feel the eternal bliss.
There is no cure for diabetes. The immediate goal should be to stabilize your blood sugar and eliminate its symptoms. Do not view yoga as a pill. Yoga treats the root cause of the disease, not the symptoms of it. Do not emphasize only on asanas, it is for Annamaya kosha (physical body) only. Yoga practice will help to reverse the diabetes only if practices of other koshas are done.
Do not carry the mindset of “How many days I should practice eliminate/reversing the disease?” This isn’t allopathy. Yoga shouldn’t be limited to eliminate the disease but for overall wellbeing. Svasthya (Sva = self, Stha = being established).
We extend our gratitude to SVYASA University, Bengaluru for their invaluable research contributions, which have significantly informed and enhanced this post.
Manjushree Yoga Vidyalaya 