Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. How can a layman understand and what precautions one can take at Prediabetic stage?

Abstract

Diabetes is a common disease these days. There are 422 million people who are suffering from diabetes worldwide. India is considered to be 'Diabetes Capital of the World.' because India has around 17% of the total persons who have diabetes in the world. Insulin, a hormone secreted by pancreas which assists glucose to enter in the body cells where it is used to produce energy. There is a condition called prediabetes in which the body does not use insulin well. As a result, the glucose level in the bloodstream starts to remain high. This condition is known as prediabetes. In the following section we shall see some more details of the condition as well as how a person can manage health at the prediabetic stage. Let's get it!!

Introduction

Insulin resistance can be identified as an abnormal response to insulin stimulation of different tissues, usually muscles, adipose and liver tissue. Insulin resistance leads to increased blood glucose level and various other elevated conditions such as dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, hypertension etc. as a result of increased glucose in the bloodstream the tests show a higher side of sugar level in blood. But it cannot be considered Diabetes but Prediabetes. There are many factors that can lead to increased blood glucose level and prediabetes. If not considered and corrected the ongoing cause of the hyperglycemia, the condition may progress into full blown Diabetes. In Ayurveda, the disease can be correlated with the Poorvaroopa of Prameha (initial symptoms of Diabetes). The disease is caused by vitiation of all the three doshas i.e. vata, p[itta and kapha. Most dominant vitiated dosha remains kapha. In Ayurveda texts, the causes of diabetes have been given as well as the symptoms of prediabetes.

Aetiology Of Insulin Resistance

It may be divided into hereditary, acquired and mixed.

Hereditary

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Myotonic dystrophy can be a genetic cause of insulin resistance.
• Lipodystrophy
• Werner syndrome
• Alstrom syndrome
• Rabson-mendenhall syndrome
• Ataxia-telangiectasia

Acquired

• Physical inactivity
• Ageing
• Glucose toxicity
• Increased sodium intake
• Lipotoxicity that can be due to free fatty acids circulation in the bloodstream
• Medication-induced Insulin resistance include protease inhibitors, glucocorticoids, exogenous insulin and atypical antipsychotics
• Nutritional imbalance is also a known cause that results in insulin resistance

Most common cause of the Insulin Resistance is excessive body fat. Obesity is one of the main reasons that can result in insulin resistance and prediabetes. Genetic causes are also responsible for the same.

Physical inactivity remains on the top of list that causes insulin resistance and prediabetes and diabetes ultimately.

Following are the main reasons according to Ayurveda that leads to insulin resistance and prediabetes

• Heavy or increased intake of newly harvested wheat and rice.
• Consumption of ghee with fresh peas.
• Consumption of freshly harvested black lentils.
• Consumption of meat of these animals and birds inhabitants in cold and moist weather.
• Excessive consumption of Porridge made with milk, Processed sugar and sweetmeats prepared with processed sugar.
• Increased consumption of Milk, freshly brewed alcohol, fresh yoghurt, sweetened products.
• Unhygienic living, not performing exercises, excessive sleep, to stay ideal and performing no physical and no mental work. And other deeds which vitiate kapha, vitiate meda dhatu and those which increase urine frequency leads to insulin resistance and predibateic conditions.

Unused insulin will lead to increased blood glucose level, that is known as Prediabetes and borderline diabetes. Over time the disease could develop in Diabetes type 2.

Symptoms of Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes

• Darkened skin of armpit and nape of the neck usually termed as acanthosis nigricans.
• Some signs of retinopathy can be there in prediabetic stage.

In Ayurveda, the poorvaroopa (early signs) and prediabetic signs and symptoms include

• Excessive tangled hair
• Sweetness in the mouth
• Burning sensation and numbness in hands and feet
• Dry mouth, throat and palate
• Excessive and repetitive thirst
• Lethargy
• Ants and flies go to the place where a prediabetic person urinates
• Increased tissue waste and toxins
• Increased moistness in the body
• Unctuous body

Evaluation

Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic glucose clamp technique is the technique used to measure insulin resistance. The non diabetic person is put on high rate infusion of insulin to suppress glucose production from liver and blood glucose level is monitored as 20% dextrose is administered at different rates to clamp the blood glucose in the normal range. The quantity/amount of glucose required to maintain a stable condition indicates exogenous glucose disposal needed to compensate for the hyperinsulinemia.

Complications

• Full blown diabetes mellitus.
• High cholesterol.
• Stroke
• Vision loss due to retinopathies
• Fatty liver disease
• Neuropathies
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Amputations due to diabetic carbuncle or diabetic foot.

Measures a person can adopt in order to prevent diabetes at prediabetoic stage

According to Ayurveda, nidana pravarjana is the most necessary element to cure a certain condition. Nidana parvajana is stopping the intake and doings that lead to dosha vitiation. Healthy lifestyle is one of the main measures in order to prevent diabetes.

Eating healthy foods. Food may be included with barley, mung bean, black gram, masoor dal, kodo millet, brown top millet, barnyard millets, rock salt. Dry fruits like cashew nuts, walnuts, resins, almonds etc can be consumed after soaking overnight and after peeling off. Fresh vegetables can be consumed raw or boiled. Cow ghee is beneficial in predibetic and dibetic conditions. Vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, and onions can be consumed. And smoothies can be prepared with leafy vegetables, spinach,and pumpkin can be consumed. All fruits can be consumed.

Healthy lifestyle can be maintained in order to check prediabetic conditions. This includes waking up early in the morning before sunrise that is known as brahma muhurta jagran. Pranayama calms the mind and gives energy to the body. Pranayama are the breathing exercises that should be performed on a daily basis. It can include kapalbhati, agnisaar, anulom vilom etc. some outdoor activities are necessary for prediabteic condition such as walking, light exercises, wrestling, sport activity, asanas (bhujangasana, dhanurasana, chakrasana, paschimottanasana etc) etc. Ruksha udvartana that dry rubbing of herbal powders on the body is beneficial in prediabetes.

Conclusion

As life gets busy these days and one doesn't get enough time to do bodily activities, one gets obese. With no active exercise and improper diet a person gets unhealthy and prone to diabetes and even develops predibetic symptoms. Therefore, Insulin resistance and prediabetic conditions need to be addressed at a priority basis as its full blown manifestation of diabetes relentlessly affects many people worldwide. By not taking care of the conditions there are a lot of complications that can worsen the condition. Therefore it becomes mandatory to get back to healthy lifestyle and food habits in order to prevent a diagnosed manifestation of diabetes. As we have discussed above borderline diabetes can be prevented by adopting healthy habits. Food and doings are the only things that can make a person healthy and unfit and prone to various diseases. 'Arogyam bhojanadheenam' is a quote in Kashyap Samhita which means the health of a person depends on what food the person is consuming. Therefore food and physical activity is all that can prevent full blown diabetes at borderline diabetes or pre diabetes stage.

Author Bio

Dr. Vikram Chauhan (MD - Ayurveda) is the CEO and Founder of Planet Ayurveda Pvt. Ltd. He is Author of the Book "Ayurveda – God's Manual For Healing". He is an Ayurveda Expert Serving People worldwide through all the Possible Mediums, Operating from Main Branch in Mohali, India. With his Vast Experience in Herbs and their Applied Uses, he is successfully treating Numerous Patients suffering from Various Ailments with the help of Purest Herbal Supplements, Diet, and Lifestyle, according to the Principles of Ayurveda. For More Details, visit www.PlanetAyurveda.com