Control of Diabetes and hypertension

We often read and hear, year in and year out, about increasing occurrences of all kinds of diseases, including diabetes and hypertension with all their consequences. Apparently all efforts to control them must be failing. Otherwise we would be seeing declining rates of all these diseases.

Is there any hope for mankind? There is, if we attack these diseases at their root causes.

The root cause of diseases like diabetes and hypertension is stress.

Our present life-style is strees- inducing, as confirmed by many studies world-wide. When under stress, our limbic system in the brain shoots electrical impulses to our hypothalamus which has two parts, the endocrine and the autonomic section.

The endocrine section of the hypothalamus secretes a hormone which acts on our pituitary which secretes among others, another hormone cortisol.

When cortisol level is chronicaly raised in our body, the effects are devastating . In anyone who has diabetes- or hypertension-inducing genes, high cortisol level will cause the respective diseases.

On top of that, prolonged high cortisol also weakens our immnune system. Anyone with weakened immune system is prone to infections.

Another devastating effect of chonic elevation of cortisol level is weakened tumor necrotising factor (TNF). TNF will wipe out any excess cells produced by any organ. In this way our body, via TNF, controls onset of tumors or cancer.

The autonomic section of the hypothalamus, under the stimulus of stress, will send out electrical impulses to various systems including the cardiovascular system. Hence, the high incidence of hypertension and heart disease in people with chronic stress.

So, how do we control stress?

Literature on stress-control is so widespread. Yet diabetes and hypertension and heart diseases keep rising, even among people who rigourously implement stress-control strategies. Definetly thoses strategies are not so succesful.

Islam has given man a way out. Stress is natural. Allah has told us:
"Verily, We have created man in toil" (Quran 90:4)

But He, The Most Gracious and the Most Merciful has provided man with guidance to overcome this:
"And shown him the two ways (good and evil)?" (Quran 90:10)

Allah has given us a wonderful brain with which we are given the freedom to choose between the two ways: good or evil way.

Anyone who chooses the correct way, he will be free from stress.
"Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance he shall neither go astray, nor shall be distressed." (Quran 20:123)

If there is any study done which shows the rate of diabetes and hypertension higher among the muslims compared to the general population, it just goes to show that the Muslims have made the wrong choice to conduct their life.
Abu Abdillah.