by RAJIV SHARMA
Dear Sir,
I have quitted smoking after taking almost 40 years immediately in June, 2011 and subsequent to that I have got checked my diabetes and it is found as Fasting 193 and PP 360.
What should I do? I have stopped taking sugar in my tea/cofee/milk etc. and have been using Ayurvedic Churna for diabetes. Please inform. I have doing walking (almost 4 km. daily in the evening) for the last one year, as I could not walk more than that due to pain in my left knee.
Please give your advice and instructions for which I shall be highly grateful to you.
—Rajiv Sharma
Rajiv, a fasting glucose of 193 mg/dL and a post-meal reading of 360 mg/dL are very high and should not be managed with diet or Ayurvedic powder alone. Please contact a doctor today or as soon as possible for confirmation, HbA1c testing, kidney assessment, and treatment.
If the 360 mg/dL reading is current or repeated, especially with vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, severe thirst, frequent urination, dehydration, confusion, marked weakness, or drowsiness, seek urgent medical care. Do not wait for herbs or walking to lower it.
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc
Hello Rajiv,
Stopping smoking after 40 years is a major achievement. It did not cause these readings and remains especially important in diabetes.
A laboratory fasting glucose of 193 mg/dL is in the diabetes range. A home-meter result cannot diagnose diabetes alone but still needs evaluation. See our guide to fasting glucose from 127–200 mg/dL.
A post-meal glucose of 360 mg/dL is far above the common target of less than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after a meal begins. Timing matters, as explained in our after-meal blood sugar guide.
Type 2 diabetes usually combines insulin resistance with a gradual decline in insulin production. It is not simply destruction of beta cells.
Take the Ayurvedic Churna container or a clear photograph of its label to the appointment so the ingredients can be reviewed.
Glucose this high often requires prescribed treatment in addition to nutrition and activity changes. Choice depends on HbA1c, symptoms, kidney and heart health, and weight.
Treatment may include metformin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, a GLP-1–based medicine, another tablet, or insulin. Insulin may be considered when glucose is around 300 mg/dL or higher, especially with symptoms, ketosis, or weight loss. Our diabetes medicines guide explains why treatment is individualized.
Do not borrow medicine, start insulin, or change a dose without a clinician. Some people can later simplify treatment after severe hyperglycemia improves.
Seek urgent medical care if glucose remains around or above 300 mg/dL and does not improve, or if you have vomiting, abdominal pain, deep or rapid breathing, fruity-smelling breath, severe dehydration, confusion, marked drowsiness, or positive ketones. These may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state.
Our guide to dangerous blood sugar levels explains why symptoms and persistence matter as much as the number.
Stopping added sugar is helpful, but rice, bread, chapati, potatoes, sweets, juice, and large carbohydrate portions also raise glucose.
Do not eliminate every carbohydrate. Use measured portions, high-fiber foods, non-starchy vegetables, protein, and no sugary drinks. A practical plate is half vegetables, one quarter protein, and one quarter carbohydrate. Our carbohydrate guide explains portions and food quality.
There is no universal need to eat four or five times daily. Meal timing should fit treatment and hypoglycemia risk. Honey is added sugar, not diabetes treatment.
Do not replace medical treatment with Ayurvedic Churna. Evidence is limited, products vary, and some contain undisclosed ingredients or toxic lead, mercury, or arsenic. Interactions are also possible.
Do not assume “natural” means safe. Have the exact product reviewed and read our herbal diabetes safety guide.
Walking is valuable, but do not force significant knee pain. With glucose near 360 mg/dL, avoid strenuous exercise until advised, especially if unwell or ketones are present.
Ask your doctor to assess the knee. Stationary cycling, swimming, water exercise, or seated strength work may be easier, depending on the cause.
Remember: stopping smoking and walking are excellent, but fasting 193 and post-meal 360 require medical treatment, not Ayurvedic Churna alone.
Safety note: Very high glucose requires individual medical assessment and treatment.
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