Lifestyle Change #2 for Overcoming Diabetes: Earthing
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Lifestyle Change #2 for Overcoming Diabetes: Earthing
In our previous blog, we spoke about sleep as a powerful yet often ignored lifestyle factor in diabetes management. If you have not read that blog yet, you could read it here.
In the same spirit, this is the second blog in our lifestyle change series, and it focuses on a practice that is simple, free, and deeply rooted in how humans have lived for thousands of years—earthing, also known as grounding.
Earthing means direct physical contact between the human body and the surface of the Earth—for example, by walking barefoot on soil, grass, sand, or stone.
To understand why this might matter, we need to briefly understand what happens inside the body at a cellular level.
Every day, our body produces energy so that we can breathe, move, digest food, and think. During this normal process, the body also produces by-products called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules. They are unstable because they are missing an electron. To stabilize themselves, they try to “steal” electrons from nearby healthy cells.
When free radicals steal electrons from healthy cells:
Cell membranes get damaged.
Proteins and enzymes stop working efficiently.
Tissues become irritated and inflamed.
This ongoing damage triggers the body’s immune response, which is actually a good thing. However, if this continues day after day, it puts the immune system on an overdrive and results in chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is not dramatic or painful like an infection. It is silent and long-term, and it is now known to play a role in:
Insulin resistance
Type 2 diabetes
Heart disease
Joint problems
Accelerated ageing
The surface of the Earth carries a natural negative electrical charge and is rich in free electrons. When the human body comes into direct contact with the Earth:
Electrons from the Earth can enter the body.
These electrons can help neutralize free radicals.
This may reduce the chain reaction that leads to chronic inflammation.
In simple terms, Earthing may help the body deal better with excess free radicals by providing a natural source of electrons. This is the core biological idea behind earthing.
The sages in India realized the healing touch of Mother Earth early on. This is why smearing the body with Earth was a daily routine.
There is a revealing graphic often shown in discussions on earthing:
Source: https://earthinginstitute.net/new-hope-for-diabetes/
As the global use of rubber-soled shoes increased, the incidence of diabetes also rose worldwide.
Of course, the above does not prove causation. Many other factors—diet, stress, sedentary lifestyles, urban living—also changed during the same period. However, the association is striking enough to raise a question:
Could insulating ourselves from the Earth be one of the missing links in modern metabolic diseases like diabetes?
This blog suggests several ways in which earthing may be beneficial. Some of these benefits have been given below:
1. Reduced Inflammation - Reconnecting the body to the Earth’s natural electric charge may help reduce chronic inflammation, which plays a central role in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
2. Improved Nervous System Balance - Earthing is described as having a calming effect on the autonomic nervous system, shifting it toward a more relaxed state. This prevents any injection of new glucose into the bloodstream by the liver.
3. Better Blood Glucose Control - Observations from research by Polish cardiologist Karol Sokal and his neurosurgeon son show that continuous grounding for three days and two nights was enough to decrease the level of (excess) glucose.
4. Enhanced Circulation and Blood Flow - Improved blood flow and reduced red blood cell “clumping” (through effects on zeta potential) were also described, which may help improve blood circulation — a common concern for individuals with diabetes.
5. Reduced Neuropathy symptoms - Clinician feedback included reports of reduced neuropathy symptoms (numbness, pain) and improved circulation in the extremities.
The good news is that earthing is extremely simple.
This is the most effective and natural method. You can walk barefoot on:
Grass
Soil or mud
Sand (beach)
Natural stone surfaces
Even 20–30 minutes a day can be a good starting point.
Sit on grass while reading
Do yoga or stretching on natural earth
Garden with bare hands
For those who live in apartments or urban environments, earthing products are available such as:
Earthing mats
Grounding bedsheets
Grounding patches
These are designed to connect to the Earth via a grounded electrical socket. While some people report benefits, it is advisable to:
Use certified products
Treat them as complementary, not essential
Walking barefoot on natural ground remains the gold standard.
If you would like to explore this topic visually and in more depth, here are three well-made resources: -
A detailed 1 hour 15-minute documentary on earthing
https://youtu.be/44ddtR0XDVU?si=adYmnibDSHLyk3O5
A concise 15-minute explanation
https://youtu.be/EcHEWH8Eh0Q?si=kocmeGnnDL7RAf3R
A simple 90-second animated overview
https://youtu.be/Z4F8mterVGE?si=V6iaUK_K3DuZKIWR
Depending on your time and curiosity, any one of these is a good place to start.
As you read this, consider asking yourself:
When was the last time I walked barefoot on natural ground?
Do I spend most of my day insulated from the Earth?
Could adding this simple habit support my overall diabetes care plan?
These questions are not meant to convince, but to invite curiosity.
Before you begin on this journey, take note of the the following precautions:
Check with your doctor before you start grounding, especially if you're pregnant or have existing nerve damage, or issues with your feet.
If you have flu-like symptoms or you don’t feel well, stop earthing.
If you decide on indoor grounding, don’t use a plug-in product during a thunderstorm as it could put you at risk for electrocution. Wiring that's not properly functioning could cause an electric shock. As already mentioned, the best way for earthing is simply to connect barefoot with the Earth.
Some people report a tingling sensation when earthing. This is a sign of a "healing crisis" and usually happens due to the inflow of electrons and the evening out of the body's electrical potential with the Earth's. If it persists or causes discomfort, you should stop earthing and consult a doctor.
Earthing can cause a rapid shift in blood glucose and blood viscosity levels. It can also improve the heart rate variability, blood circulation and reduce inflammation. These improvements could require a change in medication. Therefore, regularly check your vitals and contact your doctor, if need be.
At Nirog Bhumi, we believe diabetes is not managed through one magic solution. It improves when multiple lifestyle factors move in the right direction together—sleep, movement, food, stress, and connection with nature.
Earthing is:
Free
Safe when done sensibly
Easy to try
Deeply aligned with natural living
In our next blog, we will continue this series by exploring another lifestyle change that quietly but powerfully affects blood sugar regulation.
Until then, step outside, take off your shoes, and let the Earth do what it has always done.
If you have tried earthing before—or are planning to—share your experience or questions in the comments. Your curiosity might help someone else begin their journey.
References:
“New Hope for Diabetes.” Earthing Institute, 30 Sept. 2013, earthinginstitute.net/new-hope-for-diabetes/
#earthing #grounding #diabetes #cure #reversal #inflammation