Diabetes affects multiple organs resulting in a wide range of serious issues in patients. Many of these complications do not have any specific treatment in conventional medicine
India is considered as the Diabetes capital of the world. Approximately eight-point seven percent of Indians between the age of twenty to seventy years are Diabetic. The country suffers substantial loss of productivity and thus bears a huge economic burden because of Diabetes.
An exceedingly high number of Diabetics around the world are looking to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to act as an adjuvant or substitute for the management of their condition. Diabetes affects multiple organ systems resulting in a wide range of serious issues in patients. Many of these complications of Diabetes do not have any specific treatment in conventional medicine.
India is known for its larger than life festivals, and sweets and delicacies is a part and parcel of it. However, during this time, Diabetics should exercise caution and only consume extremely limited quantities of sweets or restrict themselves to food items which will not increase their blood sugar levels if they have very high levels of blood sugar. A temporary but sharp rise in blood sugar can cause irreversible damage to vital organs. Elevated blood sugar may take days to settle to its previous levels. We are also beginning to understand the correlation between Diabetes and COVID-19. Although research is still new, it is being postulated that diabetics have a higher chance of severe clinical outcomes and mortality due to COVID-19. Again, experts recommend that patients should strive for good control of their blood sugar levels to prevent severe complications.
Diabetes has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from being asymptomatic to causing multiple organ failure. Homeopathic management can benefit patients at every stage.
Very recent research shows that aggressive weight and diet management in the early stages of Diabetes may reverse the disease process. This revolutionary conclusion has emphasised the importance of diet and weight control even more than earlier.
Doctors usually spend a lot of time explaining the importance of lifestyle changes, including diet, mealtimes, exercise and sleep patterns, in addition to advising homeopathic medicines. Many of these patients can report lasting blood sugar control with these modifications. There are many cases where homeopathic medicines can be completely withdrawn.
Some of the other complications which occur in chronic Diabetics are conditions like peripheral neuropathy (degeneration of the nerves in the periphery of the body), Diabetic retinopathy (degeneration of the retina and related structures) and diabetic nephropathy (degeneration of the structures of the kidney, affecting its functioning). These conditions are known to respond poorly to conventional medicines. However, homeopathy can address these issues in many patients. From providing relief to pain, burning and loss of sensation of limbs, to improving or preventing further loss of vision. There is anecdotal data demonstrating improvement or arrest of degeneration of kidney functioning with homeopathic management in cases of nephropathy. We are also able to see remarkable improvements in cases of Diabetic foot, where the foot of patient begins to degenerate into a gangrenous condition due to poor blood supply. Patients are often able to avoid an amputation!
As the country takes some early steps towards an integrated healthcare system, it is important to consider homeopathy as an essential option for patients in all stages of Diabetes.
The writer is Dr Kushal Banerjee Consultant Homeopath DR Kalyan Banerjee's Clinic, new delhi
