There is an urgent need to unite modern and traditional treatments to address the complex challenges of diabetes and improve lives worldwide

Diabetes is among the most rapidly increasing chronic diseases globally. An illness marked by increased blood glucose levels, has severe repercussions if left untreated. Type 1 diabetes is predominantly handled with insulin, but lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy frequently manage Type 2 diabetes. With over 500 million people worldwide affected, diabetes is a silent, chronic condition that profoundly impacts individuals, families and health systems globally.

Modern medicine has revolutionised diabetes management via advanced diagnostic instruments, pharmacological therapies and technological breakthroughs in treatment. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) provide real-time monitoring of blood sugar levels, hence enabling proactive control. Insulin pumps and automated insulin delivery systems assist patients in sustaining stable glucose levels, hence diminishing the likelihood of problems.

Advanced pharmacological agents have enhanced glycaemic regulation, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and insulin analogues. Despite advances in diabetes research and treatment, numerous barriers prevent effective care.  These barriers include limited access to medication, lack of awareness, financial constraints, social stigma, and an often under-resourced healthcare system.

Although medical advancements in modern medicine (allopathy) have yielded numerous advantages in diabetes management, innumerable barriers prevent effective care. One is the affordability of modern medicine, and another is the adverse effects these medicines bring to the patient.

Many have shifted their interest towards traditional and alternative medicine as an adjunct therapy. These practices often offer holistic approaches focusing on the body, mind, and lifestyle, helping individuals manage their condition sustainably and integratively.

Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of holistic medicine, offers a unique and time-tested approach to managing diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, which is known as Madhumehain Ayurvedic texts. In Ayurveda, diabetes is seen as a disorder caused by an imbalance in the body’s doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). Madhumeha is associated with an aggravated Kapha dosha, which represents qualities of heaviness and lethargy and often leads to excessive weight gain, slow metabolism and insulin resistance.

These factors are recognised as contributing to the development of diabetes. Ayurveda aims to restore balance in the body and treatment protocols focus on correcting metabolic dysfunction, supporting digestion and detoxifying the body to regulate blood sugar levels using natural plant-based remedies. Herbs like bitter melon, fenugreek, and turmeric have shown promising results in lowering blood glucose levels.

Bitter melon, for example, contains compounds that mimic insulin’s effects in reducing blood sugar. Fenugreek is another herb known to improve glucose tolerance and has been shown to lower blood sugar. Traditional and alternative medicine can enhance diabetes care in several ways. When used with conventional modern treatments, these practices can help improve quality of life, lower medication dependency, and reduce the side effects of standard drugs.

Alternative therapies may also help prevent diabetes-related complications, such as neuropathy, by promoting overall wellness. Healthcare providers should be imparted training in traditional and modern treatments like genomics-based precision medicine to advise patients effectively. This also requires drastic reformation in the medical education curriculum, making doctors respect each other’s strengths.

(The writer is an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies; views are personal)