Type 1 Diabetes

Stress aggravates this condition severely.

The hormones that are released under the stress response cause a spike in glucose and fatty acid release further gumming up our essential organs and arteries.

When we are under regular everyday stresses and demands from life, our body starts to change the insulin resistance of our fat cells so that they become even less sensitive to any remaining insulin.

These fat cells then send messengers to muscle and liver tissues to stop them responding as well. Before we know it, our overactive stress response compromises the whole system.

When we are feeling relaxed, we can use diet and injections to keep us in a balanced range. 

But when stress comes along it completely disrupts the system, and then as it dies down again, we have to juggle everything further as different parts of the body cool down at different rates.

So whether the stress is physical or psychological, it wreaks havoc with our metabolic control unless we have an effective way of managing our stress and preventing the intensity and frequency of stress reactions through meditation. Given that it largely affects younger people, living with type 1 diabetes can be extremely difficult.

Beeja meditation is a really relaxing and enjoyable way to keep our stress-response under control - so that the response is proportional to the situation.

It can do this by pacifying the fight-or-flight branch of the nervous system and ensuring that the part of the brain called the amygdala, which drives the stress response, starts reacting in a less hyperactive manner.

Beeja meditation provides such a deep level of rest to the nervous system that it is better protected from the damage so often seen in patients with type 1 diabetes.

This practice is also very effective in protecting against cardiovascular disease which is much more prevalent amongst those with the condition.

Beeja also reduces the number of active oxygen radicals that might threaten the beta cells. Not only are these free radicals involved in the cause of diabetes, they are also considered to play a significant role in some of the complications seen in long-term diabetics. 

Meditation acts not just as an effective treatment for type 1 diabetes, but as a refresher for the whole body. If nothing else, it will be hugely beneficial to sufferers in terms of their confidence and self-esteem.