Natural Remedy for Diabetes

Leave a Comment / Natural Remedies For Diabetes / Dr. Samuel John Sundar

Natural Remedy for Diabetes

Treat Diabetes with Indian Gooseberry (Amla)

Uses of Indian gooseberry

Indian goose berry is the best fruit for our overall health. It prevents controls and treats diabetes and its complications. It reduces cholesterol improves the function of the brain and the heart. It boosts immunity. It improves hair growth and prevents premature graying. It has anti-aging properties and prevents cancer.

Composition of Indian gooseberry

Indian gooseberry is rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Very rich in Vitamin C and chromium. Amla also contain phytonutrients, ellagic acid and flavonoids which help to reduce damage by free radicals.

Indian gooseberry and diabetes

High fiber in Indian gooseberry delays the absorption of sugar from intestine there by reducing postprandial blood glucose. Amla increases insulin secretion. It rejuvenates insulin secreting beta cells of pancreas. Chromium present in amla improves the sensitivity of insulin. Amla reduces the complication of diabetes, improves wound healing, increases circulation of blood, improves the condition of nerves and improves memory.

How to Consume Indian gooseberry?

It is always better to eat as fresh fruit or drink as fresh amla juice. Amla is also available as dried fruits, amla powder, as jam, and as pickle. Amla powder can be sprinkled on salads and other foods.

How to make amla juice?

Take few amla fruits, remove seeds, add water, blend it, filter it and drink twice a day. For better results add a pinch of cinnamon powder and turmeric powder. You can add honey and lemon juice for taste.

Research studies in India and Oman proved that after 3 weeks of taking 3 grams of Indian gooseberry powder showed good reduction of fasting and postprandial blood glucose.

Consult your physician as taking amla along with anti-diabetics may produce Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

Treat Diabetes with Onion

Onions are high in fiber content and have low calories. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, sulfur, flavonoids and manganese. High fiber content reduces absorption of sugar. Flavonoids increases insulin sensitivity. Taking onions daily reduces sugar and its complications.

Treat Diabetes with Garlic

Garlic is rich in fiber, allicin, flavonoids and antioxidants. Fiber reduces absorption of sugar from intestine. Allicin and flavonoids increases insulin sensitivity. They prevent damage to kidneys, blood vessels, skin and eyes. They reduce glycation process. Garlic helps to prevent heart attack and stroke. Raw garlic has to be chewed for faster and better results.

Coconut and Diabetes

Coconut is rich in medium chain fatty acid. It acts as alternate energy to brain when glucose cannot enter brain cells due to diabetes. It also increases insulin sensitivity. Coconut prevents and treats Alzheimer’s disease, obesity and hypertension.

Treat Diabetes with Mango Leaves

Mango leaves are used to control blood glucose. They are rich in vitamin A, B and C. They are rich in antioxidants, tannins(anthocyanins), beta-taraxenol and ethyl acetate. They maintain the normal level of insulin and increases synthesis of glycogen. Mango leaves prevent diabetic retinopathy.

How to use mango leaves in Diabetes?

Boil mango leaves in water, keep it overnight, filter it in the morning and drink it. Mango leaves powder can be used. Half a teaspoon of the powder can be taken 2 times a day.

Mango leaves are good to reduce gallstones and kidney stones.

Treat Diabetes with Cinnamon

Cinnamon is commonly used to control diabetes. It stimulates insulin production and acts by increasing sensitivity of insulin. The powder can be sprinkled on salads or added to soups. Cinnamon powder can be added to tea.

Treat Diabetes with Fenugreek

Fenugreek is also used to prevent and treat Diabetes. It increases insulin sensitivity. Soak fenugreek seeds overnight and drink it in the morning. It is also rich in fiber which slows down the absorption of sugar from the intestine.

Treat Diabetes with Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is also used to prevent and control diabetes.

Indian Curry Leaves in Diabetes

Indian curry leaves are used to control blood glucose. As they are rich in fiber they reduce absorption of sugar. Chemicals present in curry leaves reduce insulin resistant.

Along with these green leafy vegetables and bitter guard helps to reduce blood glucose. They have low glycemic index and they delay the absorption of sugar.

Diet and Life Style Modification in Treating Diabetes

Taking low carbohydrate, high fiber and low fat diet along with regular exercise can control diabetes. Reduce mental stress to prevent diabetes. Exercises which increases muscle mass prevent insulin resistance and increases glucose utilization.

When using natural treatment to treat diabetes, inform your physician, check blood glucose often and adjust the dose of anti-diabetic drugs.

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Causes, Symptoms and Treatment for Low Blood Sugar

1 Comment / Low Blood Sugar / Dr. Samuel John Sundar

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment for Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

What is Hypoglycemia?

It is a condition where the blood sugar becomes abnormally low. It is a medical Emergency, to be treated immediately. If not, brain damage or death can occur.

What level of blood sugar produces Hypoglycemia?

Blood sugar level below 55 mg\dl produces symptoms.

What produces Hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia usually happens in diabetic patients on insulin and or on oral drugs and it happens when they skip meals or eat food very much later than normal time.

The Overdose of anti-diabetic drugs can also lower blood sugar.

In non-diabetic people, abnormal overwork without enough food, excessive drinking alcohol without food (binge) and on fasting for long period can produce hypoglycemia.

Conditions like pituitary insufficiency, liver failure, Addison’s disease, and tumours of pancreas can also produce hypoglycemia.

What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia?

Patients may have excessive sweating, hunger, palpitation (feeling fast heart beats), anxiety, dizziness, weakness, confusion and may have pale skin.

In severe cases patient may have seizures, can become violent and go in for hypoglycemic coma

What investigation to be done for low blood sugar?

Urgent capillary or blood glucose estimation to be done.

What is the treatment for hypoglycemia?

If the patient is conscious give oral glucose or sugar. Soft drinks with sugar or fruit juice can be given. Glucose tablets or hard sugar candy can be given.

Do not give food or fluids to unconscious patients as they may aspirate (choke).

If the patient is unconscious, shift to a hospital. Intravenous Glucose 10% or 25% can be given.

How to prevent Hypoglycemia?

Not to skip meals and to take small frequent food (once in 3 hours).

Take documents of their diabetic treatment always with them.

Check blood sugar level often and adjust the dose of drugs according to the physician’s advice.

Diabetic patients should carry glucose tablets or candy with them always to be taken in emergency like hypoglycemia.

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Diabetes

Leave a Comment / Diabetes / Dr. Samuel John Sundar

Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus)

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which the person has high level of blood sugar (glucose).
Diabetes is on the rise and now becoming an important health problem to the whole world.

What is the cause of diabetes?

Diabetes is caused mainly due to the slowly changing life style from manual work to highly automated industries, migration of people from villages to cities, environmental changes, and increased inactivity leading to obesity. Consumption of high caloric-high fat diet and Jung food are major factors that produces diabetes. Heredity also plays a role.

Types:

Type 1 Diabetes: Juvenile diabetes, also known as insulin dependent or child hood onset diabetes .Here the beta cells of the pancreas does not produce insulin.
Our digestive system change the carbohydrates and sugar we eat to simple sugar called glucose, which can be used as energy by the cells. Insulin is necessary to push glucose from blood into the cells of our body.
Type 1 diabetes may be congenital (heredity) or our immune system may destroy the beta cells of pancreas which produce insulin. It is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.

Type 2 Diabetes: Here the insulin production is slowly reduced and the secreted insulin may not be enough to reduce glucose level or the cells are unable to recognize the insulin and use it (insulin resistance).

Gestational diabetes: It affects some female when they are pregnant. Their children are at risk of becoming diabetic. Their children may be overweight at birth.

Pre-diabetics: When Persons blood glucose level is little higher than normal but not up to diabetic level (fasting blood glucose 100-120 mg\d}.

What are the symptoms?

Frequent urination (polyuria), Frequent thirst and hunger, tiredness and fatigue, non-healing wounds, Numbness or burning sensation of hands and feet, Giddiness, Loss of memory .loss of vision, Weight gain or weight loss.

What test to do?

Hb A1C: Hb A1C is called glycosylated haemoglobin, a form of haemoglobin that is attached to glucose. It is a blood test which shows the average blood glucose level in the past 3 months.
Normal: Below 5.7 %.
Pre-diabetic: 5.7 % – 6.4 %.
Diabetic: above 6.5 %.

Fasting blood glucose: Blood glucose values measured in Empty stomach. Normal value: Below 110 mg\dl or below 6.1 m mol \ l.

Post- prandial blood glucose: Blood glucose level measured 2 hours after food. Normal value: Below 140 mg\ dl or below 7.8 m mol \ l.

Oral glucose tolerance test: Here 75 grams of glucose is given orally and blood glucose levels measured at the end of one hour and at the end of two hours. Fasting blood glucose: 110 mg\ dl or 6.1 m mol \ l 1 hour: 10 m mol \ l or 180 mg \ dl 2 hours: 7.8 m mol \ l or 140 mg \ dl.

Complications

Diabetes can affect any part of the body.
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Loss of vision, diabetic retinopathy
• Hearing loss
• Loss of blood supply to legs
• Gangrene of foot may lead to amputation.
• Reduced sexual libido and impotency.
• Arterial diseases and stroke.
• Diabetic keto-Acidosis; (DKA). If the body cannot get enough insulin, it breaks down fat cells. This produces chemical called ketones, leading to DKA, a life threatening condition.

Treatment

The main treatment of diabetes is Diet Control, Daily Exercise and Drugs.

Diet
Eat more vegetables and fruits. It is better if they are more colourful.
Eat high fibre cereals legumes and whole grains.
Have lot of fish, skin less chicken, milk and eggs.
Reduce the intake of carbohydrates, deep fried foods, sugary drinks and packaged foods.

Daily exercise
Daily exercise like yoga, brisk walking. Taichi, Cycling or swimming has to be followed.

Drugs
Type 1 Diabetes: Injection Insulin is the main line of treatment for type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes: Oral anti diabetics can be given.
Drugs that stimulate insulin secretion like Glibenclamide, Glipizide, Gliclazide and Glimepiride may be given.
Drugs that delays absorption of carbohydrates from intestine like acarbose and voglibose can be given.
Biguanides like Metformin to reduce hepatic glucose production can be given. Thiaolidinediones like pioglitazone which increase the insulin sensitivity may be given.
These drugs can be given alone or in combinations.
In some type 2 diabetics injection insulin is necessary.

Natural remedy for diabetes

PREVENTION:

Healthy foods, healthy body weight, active life with moderate physical activity and proper sleep can prevent diabetes. Avoiding smoking, avoiding mental stress and reduced alcohol intake can also helps in preventing Diabetes.

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Natural remedy for Heart Attack

Leave a Comment / Home Remedies, Natural Remedies For Heart Attack / Dr. Samuel John Sundar

PREVENT HEART ATTACK NATURALLY.

Nature has provided us with different coloured fruits and vegetables and they are in different smell and taste. Each one gives us different nutrients essential for health. Eating plenty of natural fruits and vegetables will prevent heart attack.
We can take them individually or together as fruit salad or vegetable salad.

Tomato

Lycopene present in tomatoes reduces the risk of heart diseases by improving the endothelium of the blood vessels of the heart. They are rich in vitamin C, folic acid, beta carotene, antioxidants and fiber.

Orange

Orange contains beta-carotene and folates.

Apple, Pear, Banana

They have anti-oxidants, flavonoids and Quercetin which lowers heart attack.

Grapes

They Contain polyphenols, resveratrol and anthocyanins which prevents heart attack and stroke.

BLUE BERRY

They contain flavonoids, ellagic acid and anthocynins. They are rich in antioxidants and fiber which reduces bad cholesterol.

CHOCOLATE

Epicatechin present boosts nitric oxide which improves blood supply to the heart by improving the blood vessels of the heart.

COCONUT

Contains medium chain fatty acid which protects the Heart. Coconut water is rich in potassium which keeps blood pressure under control.

NUTS

Nuts like almonds, walnuts and flax seed contains good fat, fiber, vitamins and minerals. These protect the heart.

FISH

Fish like Salmon, Mackerel, and Tuna are high in Omega 3 fatty acid which protects the heart by increasing good cholesterol.

GREEN TEA

Reduces bad cholesterol and it acts as blood thinner. It is rich in antioxidants.

ONIONS

Acts as blood thinner, reduces blood sugar and bad cholesterol.

SPICES

GARLIC

It reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. Reduces blood clotting and acts as a blood thinner.

CAYENNE PEPPER

Contain Capsaicin which improves elasticity of blood vessels and reduce blood clotting.

GINGER

It has anti-inflammatory action. It improves blood supply to the heart. It contains lot of fiber.

CINNAMON

They are rich in fiber, calcium and magnesium which reduce Arrhythmia and regulate heartbeat. Chinnamaldehide, a chemical present in cinnamon prevents blood clot formation.

Regular intake of the above fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of heart attack.

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What are the symptoms, causes and treatment of Heart Attack

8 Comments / Heart Attack / Dr. Samuel John Sundar

What are the symptoms, causes and treatment of Heart Attack

What is Heart Attack?

Sudden pain or discomfort in the chest due to sudden loss of blood supply to the heart, results from blockage of the coronary arteries (blood vessel supplying blood to the heart).

What produces Heart Attack?

Blockage of blood supply to the heart occurs due to sudden spasm of the blood vessel or blood clot blocking the arteries or thickening of the arterial wall due to atherosclerosis (gradual deposition of fat on inner walls of blood vessels).

The symptoms felt by the patient.

The patient may have sudden pain under the sternum with excessive sweating. The pain may be of crushing type and may be felt in the left arm, neck, jaw or shoulder. Patient may have breathlessness and the patient may collapse. 20% of the patients may not feel the pain (Diabetic patients and elderly patients).

What to do?

Call the ambulance and shift the patient to coronary care unit of a hospital.
Make the patient sit in comfortable position.
Ask the patient, if he is already on medication for heart attack. Give him nitro-glycerine or isosorbide dinitrate tablet to keep under the tongue.
Make him chew or swallow aspirin tablet (avoid, if the patient is allergic to aspirin or having peptic ulcer.
If the patient is unconscious, give cardiopulmonary resuscitation or give chest compressions at the rate of about 100 per minute until the arrival of the medical team.

Investigations to be done.

ECG: (Electrocardiogram) ST elevation or depression may be seen. Q waves can be seen.
Echocardiogram can be done to test the function of the heart and note regional wall motion abnormalities.
Cardiac troponin and creatinine kinase test in blood, which may be elevated.
Coronary angiogram after the patient becomes stable to diagnose the site of blockage.

Treatment given for Heart Attack

Drugs like nitrates to dilate blood vessels.
Injection Morphine to reduce pain.
Oxygen through a nasal mask.
Intravenous thrombolysis.
Injection streptokinase or urokinase can be given to dissolve the clot.
Coronary Angioplasty with stent insertion can be done.
Coronary artery bypass grafting can be done.

Prevent Heart Attack Naturally

Prevention of Heart Attack

Stop smoking
Lifestyle modification
Low-fat Diet
Exercise

Post infarction (Heart Attack) care

Psychological counseling for anxiety and depression.
Rehabilitation programs include exercise training, counseling occupational therapy to make the patient live independently.

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