Let us know some natural ways by which we can treat diabetes at home:
What not to eat:
There are some foods which can negatively impact your diabetes. So, the first thing you need to do is to remove these foods from your diet.
- Refined sugar – We all know that sugar, until it is in its most natural form, is bad for people suffering from diabetes. When consumed, refined sugar spikes the blood sugar rapidly. Sometimes even the natural form like honey can cause a sudden spike in the blood sugar levels. So, it’s better to avoid refined sugar by all means if you are a diabetic.
- Whole grains – Grains that have gluten in them should be avoided. Gluten is associated with diabetes as its intake can cause leaky gut leading to inflammation which in turn can lead to auto immune diseases.
- Alcohol – Alcohol consumption is directly related to diabetes. Alcohol not only damages your liver but also attacks the pancreas that produces insulin. Diabetes is linked with consumption of heavy alcohol which is two to three glasses a day. Beer should especially be avoided as it has a lot of carbohydrates.
- Cow’s milk – Just like whole grains, cow milk can trigger the immune system which can lead to inflammation. Milk coming from sheep and goat is not harmful in fact it helps to maintain the blood sugar level. But the conventional cow milk can be dangerous for you if you are suffering from diabetes.5. GMO foods – GMO foods have the capability to promote diabetes along with causing liver and kidney diseases. Go for products which are labeled as GMO-free.
What to eat and do
Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains a bioactive compound that can help to fight and prevent diabetes. Cinnamon is known to stimulate the insulin activity and thus regulate the blood sugar level. As excess of anything is bad, likewise cinnamon if taken in excess can increase the risk of liver damage due to a compound called coumarin present in it. The true cinnamon, not the one buy from shops (Cassia cinnamon) is safer to have.
How to consume cinnamon
– Mix half or one teaspoon of grounded cinnamon with warm water and have it once daily.
– Boil raw cinnamon in 2 glasses of water. Let it cool for 30 minutes and have it daily.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is easily found in Indian households. Though it’s bitter in taste, but combing it with buttermilk makes it taste better. Usually, aloe vera is used for beauty purposes but as it has anti-inflammatory properties it can heal the wounds. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it is said to control the blood sugar levels.
Jamun
Jamun and its leaves have proven to be helpful in lowering the blood sugar levels. Consuming approximately 100 grams of Jamun every day is said to show tremendous improvement in your blood sugar levels.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is not only good for skin but also for diabetes. Recent studies have shown that consuming approximately 600 mg of Vitamin C daily can improve the blood sugar level significantly. People who have chronic diabetes should consume foods rich in Vitamin C every day. Some foods rich in Vitamin C are amla, orange, tomato and blueberry.
Exercise
One of the main reasons behind type II diabetes is being overweight. Any kind of physical activity, be it yoga, Zumba, aerobics, gymming, playing sports can significantly improve blood sugar level by maintaining your weight. Not only this, walking every day can help to reduce the blood sugar level tremendously.
3 ways to reduce your risk of diabetes
Choose water as your primary beverage
Sticking to water as your first choice of beverage helps you avoid other beverages that are loaded with sugar and preservatives.
Sugary beverages have been linked with an increased risk of both type 2 diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes of adults.
Lose weight if you are overweight
Though not everyone who develops type 2 diabetes is overweight or obese, but the majority of people are. Excess visceral fat promotes inflammation and insulin resistance, which significantly increases one’s risk of diabetes.
Losing even 10 per cent of your body weight reduces your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. The rule is the more you lose, the more benefits you will experience.
Quit smoking
Smoking has been linked to many serious health conditions. Studies have also shown that smoking and second-hand smoking exposes one to type 2 diabetes.
Smoking increases the risk of diabetes by 44 per cent and people who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, their risk increases by 61 per cent.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
