Table of Contents

• Diabetes meaning
• What is insulin?
• Diabetes types
• Diabetes causes
• Diabetes symptoms
• Diabetes tests
• Diabetes diet
  • Best foods for diabetic patients
  • Foods to avoid in diabetes
• Diabetes ayurvedic medicines
• Diabetes home remedies
• Diabetes prevention tips
• Best home testing kits for diabetes

Diabetes Meaning

Diabetes is a hereditary disease where your body turns most of your foods into sugar (also known as glucose). And it releases the glucose into your bloodstream. This causes a rise in blood sugar levels. 

Whenever the sugar level increases, the pancreas produces insulin. But in diabetic patients’ cases, either the body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t wisely use the insulin it makes. Over a period of time, the blood sugar level keeps on increasing and that causes chronic health problems. 

What is Insulin?

Whenever you hear the word diabetes, one word will always be attached to it, and that is insulin. So what is insulin? Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas in the body that helps in regulating the sugar level in the body and also helps in breaking down fats or proteins for energy.

Insulin production is increased with the increase in the level of glucose in the body. It helps in balancing the sugar levels in the blood. For diabetic patients, insulin injections are given to them on a regular basis.

Diabetes Types

Diabetes is mainly of 3 types. Here are the details:

• Type 1 Diabetes

Mostly children, teens, and youngsters develop type 1 diabetes, but that doesn’t mean no other age group can have it. This type of diabetes is not caused by diet and lifestyle habits. Currently, there’s no permanent cure for this type of diabetes but certain precautions can help. In most cases, a type 1 diabetic patient needs to take insulin every day.

• Type 2 Diabetes

This is the most common type of diabetes. About 90-95% of people have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes mostly develops gradually over the years and is diagnosed in adults. Children, teens, and young adults are also prone to it. The worst part about this type of diabetes is that you can’t notice any symptoms, so the only way to find out is to regularly check your blood sugar. This diabetes can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

• Gestational Diabetes

This type of diabetes only develops in pregnant women. One who never had diabetes can also develop gestational diabetes. This diabetes can go away after the birth of a child but it increases the chances of type 2 diabetes in mothers. Also, the child has a higher risk of developing health problems and type 2 diabetes. 

Diabetes Causes

• Type 1 diabetes causes
  • The exact cause of this type of diabetes is not known.
  • This type of diabetes results when the body doesn’t make enough insulin or by an autoimmune reaction where the body attacks itself and hinders the production of insulin. 
  • Anyone in the family had diabetes.

• Type 2 diabetes causes
  • This diabetes is caused when the body is not able to utilize the insulin it produces. This results in abnormal blood sugar levels. 
  • Excess abdominal fat or obesity.
  • Unhealthy lifestyle
  • Family history of diabetic patients.

• Gestational diabetes causes
  • It is caused by insulin-blocking hormones produced during pregnancy. 
  • Overweight before pregnancy.
  • Anyone in the family had diabetes.
  • The Female is pregnant after 30 years of age.
  • In past had PCOD/PCOS

Diabetes Symptoms

• Frequent urination, especially at night
• Extreme hunger
• Mostly thirsty
• Blurry vision
• Tiredness
• Dry skin
• Weight changes
• Numb hands or feets
• Prone to infections
• Excessive sweating
• Slow healing cuts, sores, or wounds

If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, consult with your doctor immediately and get the blood sugar tests done.

Diabetes Tests

Blood testing is the only thing that your doctor will suggest if you have symptoms of diabetes. However, to diagnose different types of diabetes there are different types of tests.

• Tests For Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Prediabetes
• A1C test

This test measures your blood sugar level over the past few months, 2-3 months to be precise. An A1C below 5.7% is normal, between 5.7 and 6.4% means you have prediabetes, and 6.5% or higher shows you have diabetes.

• Fasting blood sugar test

This test measures your blood sugar level after overnight fasting. A fasting blood sugar level of 99 mg/dL or lower is normal, 100 to 125 mg/dL means you have prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher shows you have diabetes.

• Glucose tolerance test

This is a combined test. You have to first take the fasting blood sugar test and then drink any glucose liquid, and check the level of sugar change in the body. After 2 hours, a blood sugar level of 140 mg/dL or lower is considered normal, 140 to 199 mg/dL means you have prediabetes, and 200 mg/dL or higher shows you have diabetes.

• Random blood sugar test

As the name suggests, this test can be taken at any point in time regardless of what time you ate last. You don’t need to fast overnight for this test. A blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.

• Tests For Gestational Diabetes
• Glucose screening test

For this test, you need to drink a glucose liquid and then after 1 hour get your blood sugar level tested. A blood sugar level of 140 mg/dL or lower is fine but for higher than this indicated diabetes. Your doctor will do some follow-up tests for confirmation.

• Glucose tolerance test

This same test that’s done for checking type 1, type 2, and prediabetes is conducted here too. 

Diabetes Diet

Best foods for diabetic patients

Choosing the right food is very important if you are a diabetic patient, especially if you are a Type 2 Diabetic. Here’s a list of food items that are tasty and yet nutritious!

• Brown rice
• Oatmeal
• Quinoa
• Millet
• Baked sweet potato
• Green leafy vegetables (kale, spinach)
• Fresh vegetables, not deeply fried
• Fresh fruits, especially seasonal fruits
• Canned fruits without sugar
• Nuts 
• Tofu
• Fish and seafood
• Chicken breast
• Eggs
• Skim milk
• Low-fat dairy products (yogurt, cottage cheese)
• Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna)
• Plant-based oils (grapeseed, olive oils)
• Lemon tea
• Black coffee

Foods to avoid in diabetes

Eating unhealthy food items in small amounts occasionally is still fine but eating them in large portions regularly is an alarming situation. Here’s a list of all those foods.

• White rice
• White flour
• White bread
• Fried vegetables with high sodium
• Butter
• Cheese
• Pickles
• Packed fruit drinks
• Sweets & candies
• Fried meats
• Deep-fried foods
• Whole milk
• Regular dairy products
• Coconut oil
• Palm oil
• Trans or saturated fat products
• Energy drinks
• Flavored drinks
• Tea and coffee with sugar

Diabetes Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda lists down a number of herbs that help in aiding diabetes. Here is a list of them:

• Saptrangi

Saptrangi is a tree whose bark is used in regulating the blood sugar levels in the body. 

• Bilva

Bilva is also a tree whose roots are covered in three leaves. The leaves are beneficial for diabetic patients. They are dried and then made into powder. 

• Turmeric

Turmeric is considered a boon in Ayurveda. It is one of the best natural anti-diabetic agents. It helps in the reduction of insulin resistance in the body and helps glucose utilize energy by entering the cells.

• Bitter gourd

Ayurveda suggests consuming bitter gourd in large quantities for diabetic patients. Its juice works wonders in managing diabetes. It lowers blood sugar levels immensely.

• Gurmar

As the name suggests, ‘Gurmar’ in Hindi means one who destroys the sugar in the body. It has gymnemic acid molecules which are helpful in controlling diabetes. 

• Tulsi

Everyone knows the immense medicinal use of tulsi. To note a few, anti-diabetic properties are also one of its benefits. It regulates blood sugar levels.

• Neem

Neem purifies the old and aids the immune system in the human body. It also helps in maintaining normal blood glucose levels.

• Amla

Vitamin C-rich foods are recommended for diabetic patients, especially type 2 ones. And amla is the best source of Vitamin C in the world. It helps in controlling the spike in blood sugar levels after meals.

• Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a plant whose seeds are used. It is used for diabetes as well as heart patients as it helps in controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The seeds of this plant are made into powder and then consumed.

Some of the best ayurvedic medicines for diabetes are:

• Kapiva karela jamun juice
• Curveda gluco guide
• Sanjeevani cheeni kum 
• Ambic diabetes care juice
• Baidyanath karela jamun juice

You can find a number of ayurvedic medicines for diabetes in the pharmacy. Just remember to read the ingredients and see if it has the aforementioned herbs or not. 

Diabetes Home Remedies

Home remedies can do wonders for diabetic patients. Consuming only medicines won’t help you. You have to take care of your health totally. At your home try these home remedies for an overall betterment and quick recovery from diabetes.

• Cinnamon stimulates insulin activity and thus helps in regulating the blood sugar level. You can have grounded cinnamon in lukewarm water in the morning every day. Remember to not overdose your body with cinnamon as it can be harmful to your liver.

• Jamun helps in lowering the blood sugar level in your body. You can have 100 grams of the whole jamun daily in the evening. 

• Vitamin C helps in regulating blood sugar levels. Consume vitamin C-rich fruits like orange, blueberry, amla, etc. in the morning every day.

• Aloe vera is rich in anti-inflammatory properties. Thus it can lower the blood sugar level. You can have it by making its juice or if you can’t handle the bitter taste, have it with buttermilk. 

• If you are a type 2 diabetic, you must have a healthy lifestyle and also lose some weight. Eating fiber can help you with this. Replace unhealthy snacks with popcorn. Have more peas, lentils, beans, and other fiber-rich foods.

Diabetes Prevention Tips

Prevention tips for diabetes are mainly for type 2 diabetic patients. Mainly this group of people is advised to have a healthy lifestyle. People who are at the risk for diabetes can prevent or delay getting it by following a healthy lifestyle. Not only this, but if you follow a healthier lifestyle it will prevent you from other diseases as well! Some changes you need to do in your lifestyle are:

• Quit Smoking

If you are a regular smoker you need to stop it now! Smoking causes insulin resistance in the body which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Smoking anyways causes many problems, so better you quit it.

• Do Regular Exercise

Type 2 diabetic patients are mainly overweight, so they are advised to lose some of it. If you do regular exercise you will not only lose weight but also see your blood sugar level going down. Try to be regular and see the changes within some time.

• Skip Fad Diets

Losing weight is one thing but don’t do it in a way that you gain back the weight again. Fad diets like keto, paleo, etc. may help you in losing weight in a short period of time. But they are mostly not beneficial in the long run. So it’s advised to have a healthy diet which contains an appropriate portion of everything. It should have whole grains, green vegetables, healthy fruits, protein-rich foods, low-fat dairy, etc.

• Little To No Alcohol Consumption

If you are a regular alcohol consumer who drinks a lot then you need to stop. Excess drinking can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, evidence has proved that one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men is considered good for heart patients and also found effective for diabetes patients. But this doesn’t mean that if you are a non-drinker you have to start consuming it. You can maintain a healthy lifestyle and have good results.

Best Home Testing Kits For Diabetes

Now testing your blood sugar level is very easy. You can do it with the ease of sitting at your home. Glucometer (an instrument for measuring the concentration of glucose in the blood) is now widely available in India.

It comes in so many varieties that there is one for everyone. Some are budget-friendly, some are accurate, some come with a long warranty, and many more such distinguishing features. Here’s a list we have curated for you that contains the best glucometers available in India.

• Dr. Morepen GlucoOne Blood Glucose Monitor Model BG 03 (1)

Dr. Morepen is a brand that is famous for its glucometers and their accuracy. There is a great demand for this amazing device in the market.

• Price– Rs. 382.00
• Warranty- Lifetime
• Accuracy- Moderate
• Results- Within 5 seconds
• Blood Sample Size- 0.5 µL
• Memory- 300 tests

• Accu-Chek Active Blood Glucose Meter Kit

Accu-Chek is famous for its ISO standard of accuracy. It is small in size but comes with multiple features. The best one is that it allows you to re-dose the strip within a gap of 8-10 seconds.

• Price- Rs. 1,599.00
• Warranty- 10 years
• Accuracy- High
• Results- Within 5 seconds
• Blood Sample Size- 1.5 µL
• Memory- 500 tests

• BeatO Smart Glucometer Kit

This is best for the tech-savvy generation. You can connect this glucometer with your phone and download the BeatO app. It will automatically save all the readings in the app after measuring. 

• Price- Rs. 899.00
• Warranty- 1 year
• Accuracy- Moderate
• Results- Within 10 seconds
• Blood Sample Size- 0.6 µl
• Memory- Phone memory

• Dr. Trustfully Automatic Blood Sugar Testing Glucometer Machine

This glucometer’s automatic features help it gain a special place in the market. It has gained good feedback over the years.

• Price- Rs. 799.00
• Warranty- 1 year
• Accuracy- Moderate
• Results- Within 5 seconds
• Blood Sample Size- 0.5 µL
• Memory- 1000 tests

• OneTouch Verio Flex Blood Glucose Monitor

This glucometer has a sleek design but with a large display. It is easy to carry and you can read and understand the results clearly.

• Price- Rs. 1,262.00
• Warranty- Lifetime
• Accuracy- High
• Results- Within 5 seconds
• Blood Sample Size- 0.4 µl
• Memory- 500 tests

So that was all about Diabetes. You must have got all the basics to advance knowledge of diabetes. Just remember to take preventive measures if you are at risk of having diabetes. And if you already have diabetes then follow the foods to eat and avoid. Also, don’t forget to use the testing kits for a regular update about your blood sugar level. Happy healing!