Background: Cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity are highly prevalent in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and substantially elevate the risk of adverse cardiac events. Panchakarma-based Ayurvedic interventions offer a holistic therapeutic framework, yet robust clinical evidence quantifying their cardiovascular benefit in diabetic populations remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a structured Panchakarma-based Comprehensive Diabetes Care plan (CDC SP) on cardiovascular risk factors — specifically blood pressure, body weight, BMI, and glycemic parameters — in diabetic patients with co-morbidities at a community integrative medicine clinic. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Goa (Madgaon) clinic under Kolhapur RIC. Twenty-nine patients (16 male, 13 female; mean age 47.1 ± 11.2 years) with confirmed or clinically suspected diabetes and BMI >23 kg/m² were enrolled in tiered CDC SP plans (Base, SP1, SP2, SP3). Each plan incorporated Panchakarma (PK) detoxification sessions, a proprietary Diet Kit (DK), and patent Ayurvedic medicines. Primary outcomes measured were HbA1c, Random Blood Sugar (RBS), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body weight, and BMI — assessed at enrolment and last clinical visit over a mean follow-up of 112 ± 83 days. Results: Significant improvements were observed across all cardiovascular and glycemic parameters. Mean HbA1c reduced from 9.33 ± 2.27% to 7.47 ± 1.16% (Δ −1.86%, p<0.05; 88% responders). RBS declined from 244.7 ± 118.1 to 152.6 ± 51.2 mg/dL (Δ −92.1 mg/dL). Systolic BP fell by 17.0 ± 13.3 mmHg and diastolic BP by 10.5 ± 9.2 mmHg. Body weight reduced by 1.85 ± 2.41 kg (81% of patients), with a corresponding BMI reduction of 0.70 ± 0.98 kg/m². Panchakarma compliance was 96.6% (28/29 patients), with a protocol adherence rate of 98.96% where formally prescribed. Notably, 7 patients (24.1%) completely discontinued allopathic antidiabetic medications and an additional 9 (31%) achieved ≥80% medication reduction. Conclusion: The CDC SP Panchakarma-based integrative care plan produced clinically significant reductions in blood pressure, blood glucose, body weight, and BMI in diabetic patients with cardiovascular co-morbidities. The high compliance rate and substantial allopathic medicine reduction suggest this approach is both patient-acceptable and effective as an integrative or complementary strategy in T2DM management.
Dr. Rohit Sane1*, Dr. Pravin Ghadigaonkar2, Dr. Gurudatta Amin3, Dr. Aniket Kamble4, Dr. Deepali Baiswar5 (Mon,) studied this question.