Diabetes During Pregnancy - How Ayurveda Can Help?

Indeed, if you are a lady and are pregnant, there is a 10% chance that you might develop gestational diabetes at some point in your pregnancy. It’s not just the mother who’s affected, but the child as well. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) occurs when pregnancy induces diabetes in a woman, and her blood glucose levels are excessively high. Most of the women who are pregnant or may be expecting shortly find it daunting to manage GDM in the best way possible.

On the other hand, Ayurveda provides an all-encompassing and equally satisfying solution to those managing gestational diabetes. Instead of just focusing on managing the symptoms, Ayurveda treats the root causes of GDM while ensuring that the body’s energies or dosha’s are well balanced along with eating healthy food.

Diabetes during pregnancy can be termed Gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes happens when a woman's body struggles to make enough insulin during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that helps manage blood sugar levels. 

When this condition occurs, it can lead to several problems, such as having a larger baby (which is known as macrosomia), giving birth early, or needing a caesarean section (C-section). If gestational diabetes isn't treated, it can cause long-term health issues for both the mother and the baby, such as obesity and a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes later on.

Here are some signs that might suggest a woman is at risk for gestational diabetes (GDM):

• Diabetes in history. Any parents, brothers or sisters, grandfathers or grandmothers, uncles or aunts.
• Having had a baby who weighs at least 4 kg or 8.8 pounds or even more.
• Having an unexplained loss of a baby during the gestation where the baby had been previously visible.
• Having too much amniotic fluid and or recurrent yeast infection in the course of the pregnancy.
• Having traces of sugar in the urine, which seems not to resolve.
• Having crossed the age of thirty years.
• Having a high body mass index.
  These are some common risk factors for gestational diabetes. While modern medicine tries to control glucose levels, Ayurveda addresses this problem on a much deeper level. The Ayurveda management principle tries to address the root cause of the disease. Read on to find out how.

Ayurveda focuses on pregnancy care mainly for three reasons: to avoid complications, to properly and completely attain pregnancy terms, and to ensure safe labour. Physicians should care for pregnant women with the utmost care.

In Ayurveda, diabetes is referred to as "Prameha," which encompasses various urinary disorders characterised by excessive urination and sweetness in urine. 
Prameha is described in detail. Nowadays, the percentage of Prameha is increased during pregnancy; this is because of the change in women's lifestyle. 

According to ancient texts, Prameha can be classified into several types based on dosha imbalances—primarily Kapha dosha. The condition is seen as a result of improper diet (Aharaja) and lifestyle choices (Viharaja) that lead to an accumulation of toxins (Ama) in the body.

Ayurveda identifies several factors contributing to GDM:

1. Dietary Factors (Aharaja Hetu):

• Excessive intake of sweet, fatty, and heavy foods.
• Consumption of excessive sour and salty diet
• Consumption of processed foods and refined sugars.
• Overeating during meals or consuming large meals infrequently.

2. Lifestyle Factors (Viharaja Hetu):

• Sedentary lifestyle with minimal physical activity.
• Stress and emotional disturbances.

• Irregular sleep patterns or excessive daytime sleeping. (excessive sleeping of more than 2 hours in the daytime and 8 hours at night)

   

3. Physiological Changes:

• Hormonal changes during pregnancy that affect insulin sensitivity.
• Increased caloric needs that may not be met with appropriate food choices.

To effectively manage gestational diabetes, it's essential to understand both the Ayurvedic perspective on its causes and the strategies available for dietary and lifestyle modifications.
 

The management of gestational diabetes in Ayurveda focuses on restoring balance through dietary modifications, lifestyle changes, and herbal interventions.

1. Dietary Modifications
   Balanced Diet: An Ayurveda diet for managing GDM should include the following:

• Whole Grains: To provide complex carbohydrates, incorporate barley (jowar), millet (bajra), and whole wheat.
• Vegetables: Emphasize bitter vegetables like bitter gourd (karela) and green leafy vegetables, which help regulate blood sugar levels.
• Proteins: Include legumes, lentils, and lean meats in moderation for adequate protein intake.
• Healthy Fats: Use ghee or coconut oil sparingly, as they are considered beneficial for digestion.

Avoid:

• Sugary foods and beverages.
• Processed foods high in refined sugars and unhealthy fats.
• Excessive consumption of dairy products.

2. Lifestyle Changes

• Regular Physical Activity: Engaging in moderate exercise, such as walking or prenatal yoga, helps improve insulin sensitivity and manage weight gain during pregnancy.
• Stress Management: Practices like meditation, deep breathing exercises, and prenatal yoga can reduce stress levels, which may contribute to blood sugar fluctuations.
• Adequate Sleep: Ensuring proper rest is essential for hormonal balance and overall well-being during pregnancy.

3. Herbal Remedies
   Ayurveda utilises several herbs known for their hypoglycemic properties:

• Bitter Gourd (Karela): Known to lower blood sugar levels effectively when consumed regularly.
• Fenugreek Seeds (Methi): Soaking seeds overnight and consuming them can help manage blood sugar levels due to their soluble fibre content.
• Turmeric (Haldi): Contains curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties that may assist in improving insulin sensitivity.
• Amla (Indian Gooseberry): Ayurveda considers the amla and turmeric combination as an effective remedy for diabetes.
• Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia): This herb is known to enhance immunity and may help regulate blood sugar levels.
• Jamun (Black Plum): Black plum may help in managing diabetes by reducing blood sugar levels.

In addition to all these lifestyle modifications and diets, ayurveda doctors will prescribe you completely safe and effective medicinal formulations with turmeric and amla which can help address the root cause of your GDM.
Ayurveda treatment for diabetes during pregnancy is an effective option. Consult with our expert physicians to examine you and provide you with a detailed personalised treatment plan and medications that are completely safe for you and your baby.

For women diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GDM), keeping a close eye on blood glucose levels is vital. But why not take it a step further?

Regular consultations with an Ayurvedic practitioner can make a world of difference. They can assess your progress with the condition, provide tailored advice that can enhance your diet, or suggest medicines perfectly suited for your condition. It’s not just about managing GDM; it's about addressing the root cause of it and ensuring the safety of both you and your baby.

How can Apollo AyurVAID help?

At Apollo AyurVAID, we offer the best integrative approach. We believe in Precision Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. Apollo AyurVAID’s approach of integrating Ayurveda and modern medicine in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) provides for both physical and emotional aspects of healthcare. 

While modern medicine focuses on monitoring and regulating blood sugar levels through diet and medication, Ayurveda emphasizes personalized dietary guidelines, lifestyle modifications, and herbal remedies that promote balance within the body. The integration, therefore, allows for the restoration of individual dosha imbalance alongside addressing stress levels with yoga and meditation as part of the care enhancement. Through the combination of these methodologies, our doctors manage the determinants of GDM, enabling women to manage their pregnancies from a more health-friendly atmosphere and overall wellness.