Beat diabetes with alternative therapies – integrating various practices

Nov 14 is World Diabetes Day.

By: Admin | | Updated: September 25, 2014 4:10 pm

Integrating alternative therapies Nov 14 is World Diabetes Day.

As we have seen, a variety of techniques and therapies work together to keep the disease at bay and lifestyle changes are crucial here. Mr Ketan Shah, the Acupressure practitioner, strongly recommends oil pulling for improving one’s metabolism. Dr Raman, the Homoeopath, recommends an Ayurvedic medicine along with Homoeopathy and the required levels of allopathic medication. Maybe diabetes might turn out to be the catalyst for integrated medicine, bringing together the strengths of all systems for the good of the patient.

It is not just systems of medicine that are integrated in diabetes management. The body-mind connection manifests so strongly here that it leaves very little room for doubt. Every diabetic goes through a period in which his sugar levels are well controlled, the prescribed diet is followed, regular walking happens, and so on. However, the mind takes over, and the patient who was complacent with good sugar controls, craves again for food. A hunger signal that used to be there when sugar reached say a level of 70 mg/dl is now received at a level of 130 mg/dl. Low-fat diets increase craving, and also make the patient at least partially insulin resistant. It is clearly seen, therefore, that insulin resistance is as hormone driven as one’s libido, and is greatly affected by feelings of stress, happiness and bliss.

Louise Hays in her book, Heal Your Life, points out the probable cause of diabetes as a longing for what might have been, a need to control, deep sorrow, and a feeling that no sweetness is left in one’s life. She suggests practising the affirmation: ‘This moment is filled with joy. I now experience the sweetness of today.’ ‘Diabetes is associated with suppressed anger,’ says Martin Brofman, in his book, Anything Can be Healed. He explains that as the pancreas is on the feeling (left) side of the yellow chakra, the issue has to do with the lack of balance between one’s feeling and state of being, as well as the need for control.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

Clearly, from the holistic perspective, the need for control, or the perceived lack of it, is central. And the solution is to let go, to accept things as they are. This is not easy and requires inner work. Make the commitment to go within and investigate your inner domain your thoughts, feelings, reactions, and so on. Get to know yourself. Find out who you are, what are your longings, your hurts and so on. The inner self longs to be acknowledged, and given conscious attention. That apart, it is in knowing yourself that you unleash your inner stores of knowledge, wisdom, strength and even healing. Among the methods most often advocated for inner work is meditation, of which there are many types. Affirmations of feeling loved, and of accepting one’s life and one’s relationships can also be deeply healing and consoling.

Hope comes in many forms. Choose whatever suits you best or try a smorgasbord of options. Good luck and good health!