Diabetes
is wide spread globally ranking as one of the most common chronic
disease. There are millions of Diabetes throughout the world. No
body knows their exact number but an estimated 8to 10 percent of
the world population has the disease.
Diabetes is an old enemy, being mentioned in ancient Indian, Greek
and Roman Medical texts. About 2,500 years ago, ayurvedic authorities
SUSHRUTA and CHARAKA noted that its victims frequently
passed large amounts of Sugar - laden Urine which attracted ants.
Hence, they called the disease MADHU MEHA (Honey Urine),
a term still commonly used. The modern name was coined by the second
century physician ARETAEUS, from the Greek word ‘diabetes’,
which means, SIPHON, because he observed that the disease
acted like a siphon on its victims, “Melting down flesh
and limbs in urine”.
What is Diabetes?
However, it was
only early this century that Medical Scientists found that an inadequacy
of INSULIN, a natural hormone, caused DIABETES. Normally,
after a meal, the complex carbohydrates in food are broken down
to glucose, a simple sugar, which is absorbed into the blood stream.
This triggers certain cells in the PANCREAS, (15 cm long
fish shaped organ) situated behind the stomach to release tiny amounts
of INSULIN which ferries glucose from the blood into each
of the thousands of millions of cells that make up the body’s
various tissues and organs. INSULIN also helps to burn up
the sugar within the cells themselves, releasing the energy required
to maintain vital functions.
When such a key element (INSULIN) is deficient or ineffective,
the body’s well-being suffers and with severe deficiency tissues
starve ironically, amidst plenty, for blood sugar keeps on rising
since very little can enter the cells. Consequently, a large amount
of Sugar and the water in which it is dissolved, is filtered out
of the blood in the kidneys, leading to excess urination. Deprived
of sugar and fluids, the victim constantly feels weak, hungry and
thirsty, the typical symptoms of Diabetes.
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