Ayurveda Management of Diabetes Mellitus: A Comprehensive Evidence-Based Narrative Review

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) remains a key worldwide health issue due to its rising prevalence, significant morbidity, high economic burden. Conventional medical approaches often struggle to achieve optimal control in many patients, leading to growing interest in complementary therapies such as Ayurveda. This narrative review explores the clinical evidence supporting Ayurveda management of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus and prediabetes. A comprehensive literature search spanning PubMed, AYUSH Research portal and Google scholar from 2015 to 2025 identified 16 clinical studies, including randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, and single case report. The interventions evaluated ranged from classical and polyherbal formulations, herbo-mineral compounds, and Panchakarma therapies to integrated lifestyle strategies incorporating yoga, therapeutic fasting, and Ayurvedic dietary protocols. Ayurvedic therapy consistently improved glycemic indices (HbA1c, FBS, PPBS), insulin resistance, lipid profiles, BMI, and quality of life. Notably, integrative treatments that combined Ayurveda with Western medicines, including Metformin, resulted with improved outcomes with fewer adverse events. Panchakarma therapies such as Vamana, Virechana, and Basti have also shown promise for correcting early diabetes conditions. The findings underscore Ayurveda's holistic, individualized framework as a possible supplement or alternative in diabetes treatment and management. However, additional large-scale, standardized trials are required to corroborate these findings and promote wider clinical implementation.