Lord Ganesha is always shown with a big tummy and sweets (laddoos) in one hand. Yet he never had diabetes.

A spiritual interpretation to this can be that the big tummy symbolizes retention of all information gathered from listening with two big elephant ears.

There is a medical interpretation too, where the big tummy represents susceptibility of Asian Indians to pot belly obesity and to metabolic syndrome.

The sweets denote uncontrolled desire to eat sweets, which can be controlled by the offerings (fruits and leaves) to Ganesha through their antidiabetic properties.

Ganesha Stotras in Ganpati Upanishad

“Gajananam Bhoota Ganadi Sevitam; Kapittha Jambu phalasara bhakshitam; Umasutam Shoka Vinasha karanam; Namami Vighneswara pada pankajam”.

 गजाननं भूतगणादि सेवितं कपित्थ जम्बूफलसार भक्षितम् उमासुतं शोक विनाशकारणं

• Gajananam (the big tummy one worshipped by all) 
• Bhoota (the one offered to Ganesha: Durva grass and Bilva patra) 
• Ganadi (in equal quantity) 
• Sevitam (consumed)
• Kapittha (Kaith or Elephant apple) 
• Jambu (Jamun) 
• Phalasara (fruits) 
• Bhakshitam (to be consumed)
• Uma (means sweet in Sanskrit)
• Sutam (son, also means urine) 
• Shoka (diseases) 
• Vinasha karanam (get rid of)
• Namami (I bow to) 
• Vighneswara (destroyer of grief) 
• Pada pankajam (feet of lord)

The mantra talks about four medicinal herbs: Durva grass, Bilva patra, elephant apple fruit (Kaith) and Jamun. All have anti-diabetic properties and are insulin-sensitizers.

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Elect Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA