Management of juvenile diabetes through an add-on Ayurveda drugs: A case study

Abstract

Abstract The prevalence of juvenile diabetes is increasing day-by-day. As of date, no other than insulin therapy is available as a treatment for type 1 diabetes. In Ayurveda, type 1 diabetes can be correlated with Madhumeha, which is Vataja Prameha, and with Sahaja Prameha, which occurs due to Beej Dosha. These conditions are supposed to be Asadhya (incurable) and Anushangi (long-standing); the holistic approach with Rasayana Aushadha and Pathya Aahar Vihar may help improve the quality of life. In the study presented here, a case of a patient with juvenile diabetes, treated with Ayurveda medicine. An 8-year-old male child with type 1 diabetes was treated with Guduchyadi Vati (GV) for 3 months along with his ongoing standard of care (insulin injections). After the treatment duration of 3 months, fasting blood sugar was reduced from 230 to 110 mg/dL. Postprandial blood glucose was reduced from 312 to 125 mg/dL. Glycosylated hemoglobin and mean blood glucose levels were reduced from 14.7 and 375 to 6.8 and 148 mg/dL, respectively; C-peptide increased from 0.58 to 1.56 ng/mL. His treating physician had reduced the dose of insulin from 12 to 6 units/day. Classical symptoms of Madhumeha like Daurbalya (weakness), Kshudhavruddhi (polyphagia), Pipasatipravrutti (polydipsia), and Prabhuta Avila Mutrata (polyuria) were also relieved markedly after treatment. The addition of Ayurvedic treatment (GV) to the patient’s standard treatment protocol helped maintain his blood sugar at a normal level with reduced insulin injections and relieved major symptomatology of type 1 diabetes.