Sassoon General Hospital’s six-month trial on the use of ayurvedic treatment to control diabetes has provided a ray of hope. In what can be termed as a breakthrough of sorts, a majority of diabetic patients in the clinical trial showed relief of symptoms in just two months of ayurvedic treatment, while one diabetic patient successfully managed on ayurvedic treatment without insulin.

The clinical trial on 63 patients was undertaken to find out the effect of ayurvedic treatment on diabetic patients. Around 46 patients (73 per cent) responded to ayurvedic diabetic treatment, where a statistically significant difference was found in the blood sugar levels. One out of 14 Type 1 diabetic patient successfully managed on ayurvedic treatment without insulin, while nine patients of Type 1 diabetes (those requiring insulin) showed reduction in the dosage of insulin from 35 units to 21.6 units.

Dr Sarita Gaikwad, Head of the Department of Ayurved, Sassoon General Hospital, told The Indian Express that a majority of patients showed relief. The effect of the ayurvedic diabetic therapy was more pronounced in patients with Type 2 diabetes (those not requiring insulin). Allopathic drugs were completely stopped in 19 patients, whereas in 14 patients the dosage was reduced after 180 days of treatment. While 43 participants in the study were males, there were two children below 10 years. The average age group was 31 and above.

Co-researchers of the study included Dr D B Kadam, professor of medicine at SGH and Dr P S Pawar, Medical Superintendent of SGH. Patients were given Madhusar granules of 5 gms twice a day and half the dose was given to children, said Pawar. We wanted to clinically test the role of ayurvedic treatment for diabetes and develop an alternate line of therapy, the researchers said, adding that the six-month period will be extended to more than a year to explore the full benefits of the therapy.