Kejriwal coughs less, sugar level dips

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is coughing less and his blood sugar level has considerably declined at a private hospital here where he is undergoing naturopathy treatment since March 6, a medical officer said on Wednesday.

"Kejriwal is responding well to our treatment. His cough is not as frequent and as intense as it was earlier. Blood sugar level is at 180-200mg/dl after food as against 300mg/dl six days ago," Jindal Naturecure Institute medical director Babaina Nandakumar told IANS here.

The 44-year-old Aam Aadmi Party leader was admitted on March 5 to the hospital on the city's outskirts for treating his chronic cough and high blood sugar as he is a diabetic.

"His health condition has remarkably improved over the last couple of days. Intake of insulin has been reduced to 25 units from 50 units earlier as his blood sugar level has declined though it is still above 110-140mg/dl level," Nandakumar said.

As no medicines are given under naturopathy treatment, Kejriwal is under a 12-hour regime from 5.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for detoxifying his body and restoring normalcy in his basic health.

"Kejriwal has adjusted well to our strict regime and was able to go through various yogic exercises and therapies. Waking up at 5 a.m., he goes on a 30-minute walk and does mediation, followed by breathing exercise, cleansing body with Kriya technique, acupuncture, mud therapy and oil massage," Nandakumar pointed out.

Kejriwal's diet consists of vegetables and fruit juices, medicinal liquids, sprouts, boiled vegetables, chapathis and soup.

"Kejriwal has an early breakfast by 8 a.m., followed by lunch at 11.30 a.m. and supper by 6.30 p.m. and retires to bed by 9 p.m.," she recalled.

Asserting that visitors were not allowed to meet Kejriwal or his parents who are staying with him, the officer said though there was a landline and a television set in the three-bedroom cottage, he was not seen using them.

"As the treatment regime is continuous from morning to evening with 30-minute gap for breakfast, lunch, afternoon rest and supper, we have not seen him using landline, watching television or reading newspapers when he is in the room," Nandakumar added.

Kejriwal's parents Gobind Ram and Gita Devi, however, have mobiles to use.

Asked if Kejrwal gets calls from his party colleagues or ministers from Delhi, Nandakumar said no incoming calls are entertained during the day as he is pre-occupied with the treatment regime and retires to bed by 9 p.m.

Kejriwal is scheduled to return to Delhi March 16 after the 10-day treatment at the institute.