Evaluation of Long-Term Glycemic Outcomes Following Ayurvedic Panchakarma Therapy and Lifestyle Intervention in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A One-Year Follow-Up Study

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition marked by high blood sugar - the side effects of long-term allopathic treatment highlight the need for exploring safer, integrative therapies. Methods: A retrospective, observational, single-centre study was conducted in Maharashtra, India between October 2021 and April 2024. Patients aged 18 years and above with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (HbA1c ≥6%) according to the American Diabetes Association and adherent to oral hypoglycemic agents who underwent treatment with the Comprehensive Diabetic Care Program were included in this analysis. Results: Mean age of the study patients was 53.78 ± 11.08 years, of which 34 (68%) patients were male. Mean weight (day 1: 72.43 ± 12.38 kg, day 30: 70.45 ± 12.33 kg, day 60: 69.41 ± 12.15 kg, day 90: 69.15 ± 12.34 kg, and 1 year: 70.38 ± 12.26, p=0.00), body mass index (day 1: 27.51 ± 3.68, day 30: 26.76 ± 3.83, day 60: 26.43 ± 3.78, day 90: 26.31 ± 3.90, and 1 year: 26.78 ± 3.94, p=0.00), and abdominal girth (day 1: 96.54 ± 8.74 cm, day 30: 93.80 ± 8.98 cm, day 60: 92.14 ± 8.56 cm, day 90: 91.72 ± 8.59 cm, and 1 year: 92.84 ± 8.61 cm, p=0.00) improved at the follow-ups. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (day 1: 8.28 ± 2.10%, day 30: 7.22 ± 1.45%, day 60: 6.83 ± 1.02%, day 90: 6.55 ± 0.84%, and 1 year: 6.74 ± 0.81, p=0.00) also improved significantly at the follow-ups. Conclusion: Integrated Ayurvedic management of type 2 diabetes mellitus over a 90-day period has proven highly effective in maintaining long-term glycemic control, even after 1-year of follow-up, whilst significantly reducing dependence on allopathic medications.