Diabetes is one of the most dangerous metabolic diseases of the modern world. Almost everyone is familiar with the disease and its symptoms, and almost everyone knows somebody who is suffering from diabetes related problems – so widespread the disease has become today.

Simply explained, diabetes is a disease in which the level of glucose in the blood increases. The diabetic person must take extreme care with the kind of diet consumed, and must avoid all hyperglycemic foods, i.e. foods that have a high sugar content. Apart from this, there are several other precautions to be followed.

No cure is known for diabetes yet. But this condition can be lived with if healthy measures are taken. Ayurveda has a treasure-mine of information relating to diabetes, which is called madhumeha in Sanskrit, and means to combat with the depressing disease.


Diabetes is a disease that occurs due to defects in the carbohydrate metabolism in the body. It is one of the major metabolic disorder of the body. The most common of the different types of diabetes is the diabetes mellituswhich is also known as hyperglycemia. It is the diabetes that is characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood and the urine of the person.

All types of diabetes are caused due to the nonfunctioning of the pancreas. This type of diabetes is caused due to low insulin levels produced by the pancreas, leading to faulty utilization of the glucose in the body.


The pancreas in the body has specialized cells called as the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. These cells are responsible for the secretion of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that takes care of converting the bodily sugar, i.e. glucose into energy. However in some people, due to hormonal deficiencies or due to malfunctioning of the pancreas, the insulin is not produced in the proper amount. This leads to failure in the utilization of glucose and the retention of glucose in the body of the person. This situation is what is commonly referred to as diabetes.
The levels of insulin can also be brought down due to other extrinsic factors. Some of these factors are:-

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Too much sleep
• Stress
• Lack of Exercise

Consumption of too many sweet foods also leads to increase in the levels of glucose in the body. Hence, this may lead to diabetes. What causes diabetes - According to the beliefs of Ayurveda madhumeha is a disease that can be caused due to vitiation of any one of the three doshas> vata,pitta or kapha. Most cases of diabetes in the world are of the kaphadosha vitiation. Agni is also responsible for the culmination of diabetes. Agni represents the bodily fires, and when these fires are diminished, then there is a chance that the carbohydrate utilization may not occur in the correct manner, thus leading to increased levels of glucose in the blood.


The symptoms that are most commonly seen among diabetic Patientsare as follows:-

• Excessive urination
• Excessive hunger and thirst
• Pain in the back and joints
• Constant tired feeling
• Loss of weight
• A taste of sweetness in the mouth