Is stress, one of the causes of Diabetes?

Chanting of `Aum' is a great way to start your day

Happy Diwali readers. 
I know it is the time for temptation; the hardest time to stay away from Diwali goodies. However, you will be surprised to know that if you continuously have your Green Smoothie, Nitric Oxide salad and are completely off wheat and wheat products and milk and milk products, your mind starts to become strong enough to look at ladoos and karanjis indifferently. However, a bite or two of these goodies is fine. Preferably eat a bit of them when you are hungry. That's the trick that I have discovered - when you are very hungry and you chew your food and eat, digestion is at its best efficient level. It is very important in Diabetes not to load your stomach when not hungry. Otherwise, I experienced that the correct kind of food too becomes a burden to the body.

Yesterday my friend called me up to say that ever since his breakfast of Nitric Oxide salad, his fasting sugar levels have been around 97. However, he is on medication. So, he had his Nitric Oxide breakfast and had lunch after a long gap (more than 5 to 6 hours) and he almost had a blackout. His sugar levels really dipped. It is very important here to mention that if you are on medication and pursue this diet, you need to continuously watchful of yourself or be in dialogue with your doctor.  More importantly, carry a small snack along with you always. I carry Rajgira (Amarnath) flakes with me in a small bottle and keep having it whenever I'm slightly hungry (and it'snot meal time) or feel low in sugar. You can carry chanas and peanuts too. Or my friend said you could carry glucose tablets. I even have a banana or guava in case I feel I need something more filling - however, you may take a call on that.

So, does stress cause Diabetes? Doctors tell us that stress is one of the causes of any lifestyle disease. It is true that some people have temporary Diabetes when they are stressed or their blood pressure rises temporarily, so perhaps it is one of the causes. However, I believe that when you take such a vague thing seriously, you get more stressed. And you start feeling negative. You start cursing your spouse who you attribute to your stress, or your work or your children and I know of women who are also stressed because of cooking! I feel that what is life without stress? Even waking up and making your Smoothie is a stress, for you have to ensure that your ingredients are in place. Getting ready for a party is also a stress for you have to take efforts to look good and wear good clothes, For me, journalistic writing is a stress each time I have to meet a deadline. I feel, for the sake of justice you MUST argue with your spouse. For bringing up children well you MUST take pains to tell them what is right or wrong. And yes, if you lead a passive life, even then you are stressed. So, I believe that stress is a beautiful thing - it inspires you to be positively active. It is only when you take stress negatively that you are stressed in the wrong away. 

Therefore, I believe, the thought that your sugar levels are not normal is the biggest stress to your mind. Sugar levels going haywire can grip you with unknown fear and nervousness. That's because doctors put before you the serious repercussions of Diabetes - you are liable for blindness, kidney failure, gangrene, heart attack, strokes and what not! ERADICATE all these thoughts. Is our body was damn weak that it will succumb so easily? No definitely, not. Dr Pramod Tripathi and Dr Biswaroop Chowdhury have shown that they have controlled/cured chronic Diabetes in people who follow their programmes, so scientifically designed. Dr Tripathi is celebrating `Muktotsav' (liberation from Diabetes) event on the 20th of November to felicitate patients who have passed the GTT test (Glucose Tolerant Test) and have driven away Diabetes from their lives. So, please do not fear Diabetes. You need to have a strong mind meaning do not get stressed with Diabetes.

So, what are the ways you can make your mind strong in order that you do not get nervous about Diabetes. Here are a few stress-buster tips:

* Take the formula from Aamir Khan's Bollywood movie, Three Idiots and keep chanting, ``All is Well.'' I add to it, ``All will be well''. It will bring positivism in your mind.
* Please do not get obsessed with checking your blood sugar more often than what the doctor has instructed you. In fact, I go a step beyond - I only, only check it once a week. However, I',m not a medical expert to advice anyone but I would appeal to you not to revolve your life around the sugar level numbers. Whatever they may be, continue your good diet and exercise.
* Chanting God's name with Rosary beads builds up stability of mind.
* Meditation for a few minutes in the morning is useful. Frankly, I find it hard to meditate by being silent and by being in a state of thoughtlessness. I think of all the worldly things particularly my writing deadlines and some event that may have taken place the day before. I mean thoughts keep coming to me, so instead of pretending to meditate, I say `Aum' 21 times in the morning. An Ayurvedic doctor, Dr Limaye recommended this and it truly works wonders. Do try it. It energises and rejuvenates you. 
* Do not have extreme expectations of yourself or of others. That's the biggest stress. Recognise that each one is differently made. I am very inspired by Swami Parthasarthy who mentioned in his lecture that we can differentiate animals as they are physically made differently. Thus, we know that a tiger roars so we do not expect it to bleat. A lamb is so petite so we do not expect it behave wildly. However, human beings all look the same but carry different traits within them (hence those Zodiac signs and Chinese year dedicated to different animals, I guess). So, let each one be what he or she is and let us see their good points and enjoy a socially integrated life.
* Breathe in oxygen every morning through Pranayam, walk or any other light exercise. That is the best way to drive away your fear and to bring in a positive outlook to life.
I may add that all that I say here, is based on my learning experience of life. It is no preaching. I have tried all that I write here.
So let us enjoy the Diabetes Challenge. It is a great opportunity to tone up your physical and mental health.

Tomorrow: Delicious Brown Rice recipes