Diabetes mellitus (DM)
is a group of metabolic disorder in which there is a high concentration of
blood sugar (Hyperglycemia) persisting over a prolonged period of time, with
symptoms like:
·
Polyphagia:
Increased hunger
·
Polydipsia: Increased thirst
·
Polyuria: Increased urination
Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin
produced. There are three main types of diabetes mellitus:
· Type
1 DM results from the pancreas'
failure to produce enough insulin. This form was previously referred to as
"insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "juvenile
diabetes". The cause is unknown.
· Type
2 DM begins with insulin resistance,
a condition in which cells fail to respond to insulin properly. As the disease
progresses a lack of insulin may also develop. This form was previously
referred to as "non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (NIDDM) or
"adult-onset diabetes". The primary cause is excessive body weight
and not enough exercise.
· Gestational
diabetes, is the third main form and occurs
when pregnant women without a previous history of diabetes develop a high blood
sugar level.
For
ages, the treatment of diabetes mellitus has been a matter of medical
controversies where several myths have also been made prevalent. Even in recent
times with all modern facilities and medical advancements, we are still light
years away from bursting those myths unless recently a flake has been in sight
amidst this dark avenue.
“Live
in present but learn from the past”- a proverb we often come across but hardly
understand the in depth meaning of it, showed us the way towards a healthy
future. Diabetes mellitus truly cannot be cured but can be controlled as well
as prevented.
If
we look deep in to the disease we can see several underlying phenomenon which
can form a symptomatic way to deal with diabetes treatment. Dealing with the
type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, we see that mostly it is a cell related
factor, where either a cell fails to produce insulin or a cell fails to respond
to the produced insulin. In both the cases, it is the cells which due to some
damage caused, fails to act normally, giving rise to a diabetic issue. Thus, if
we can replenish the normal cellular conditions, we can to some extent deal
with the diabetic situation: talking about cell rejuvenation: “Is it possible?” is a question which
arises in the mind of one and all of the global intelligentsia. I would say
that possibility arises if we can look at the impossible in a positive manner. Tribal:
people who are the constant companion of nature, the fore-runners of the past,
have conserved the knowledge of nature, uses some amazing way to combat
diseases, which have become a topic of research. Following are some tribal home
remedies towards diabetes mellitus (mostly Type 1 but to some extent also
useful for Type 2 patients):
·
Cinnamon Bark (Sc. Name:
Cinnamomum zeylanicum , Family:
Lauraceae)
Cinnamon bark is a double quill type of bark, whose detailed
phytochemical study has shown the immense presence of compounds like
Cinnamaldehyde, Eugenol, etc.among which Cinnamaldehyde is well known to combat
diabetes mellitus.
|
Fig: Cinnamon Bark |
Detailed
in-vitro and in-vivo studies and clinical trials have shown that regular
administration of cinnamaldehyde initiates and increases insulin stimulated
glucose utilization in body, which reduces the blood sugar level. Also it
lowers the concentration of triglyceride, total cholesterol (mainly HDL and
LDL) and intestinal α- glycosidase
activities, which were potential causes of various incurable ailments that people
commonly suffer from now a day, including hypercholesterolemia,hypertension,hyperthyroidism and what not
|
Fig: Cinnamaldehyde |
Home remedies:
1.
Regular
chewing or in taking about 1-6g of cinnamon bark (either made into small pieces
or powdered in hand mortars only).
2.
Cutting
out sugar from regular diet and incorporating cinnamon in tea in place of
sugar- drinking of masala tea with cinnamon and honey can be both refreshing
and will also serve as an anti- diabetic therapy.
Other
Advantages: Using of cinnamon not only maintains
the normal blood glucose level but also chewing of cinnamon bark might debar people
from taking tobacco or betel leaves, which are potential causes of
gastro-esophageal cancer.
Toxicity:
Cinnamon bark has been proved to be safe but over dose might cause small
irritations in mouth and esophagus, which can be dealt with by in taking a
glass of plain water
Fenugreek
seeds (Sc.
Name: Trigonella
foenum-graecum , Family: Fabaceae)
Fenugreek seeds are commonly known as “Methi” in India, where a several delicacies
are prevalent in Indian cusine, made out of these seeds.
|
Fig:Fenugreek Seeds |
Plant contains
steroidal saponins, at which Diosgenin is a major component .Bitter taste of
seed is due to presence of saponins. Yamogenin is (25S) - epimer of diosgenin
and present in the ratio of 2:3 with diosgenin in the seed. Trigofoenoside A,
B, C, D, E, F, G, trigonelloside C, yamogenin tetroside B, C, tenugrin B, tigogenin,
neotigogenin, yamogenin, gitogenin, neogitogenin, yuccagenin, lilagenin,
sarsapogenin and smilagenin are glycosides of T. foenum-graecum.
Glycosides of diosgenin are graecunins A, B, C, H, I, J, K, L, M and N having
potent anti-diabetic activity,In
humans, seeds exert hypoglycemic effects by stimulating glucose-dependent insulin
secretion . The hypoglycemic effect of plant has been attributed to different
mechanisms. Plant extract act directly on pancreatic cells and stimulate
insulin secretion by beta cells and/or inhibit α-cells and release of
hyperglycemic factor.
|
Fig:Diosgenin |
Home Remedies: Fresh seeds (about 2 tablespoon full) are to be kept
soaked in a glassful of plain water overnight, where the seeds are to be
discarded next morning and the supernatant liquid to be drunk in empty stomach.
Other advantages: Fenugreek seeds also have potent anti-oxidant
activity, which can rejuvenate body cells, increase cell proliferation and can
even exert an anti-ulcer activity by maintaining the normal condition of the
gastric mucosa.
Toxicity: Over usage might produce a laxative action due to
Chlorogenic acid and also might produce a contraceptive effect due to the
presence of Diosgenin. Drugs like Warfarin sodium and anti-coagulants might interact
with the phytoconstituents.
If
a patient is continuing with an anti-diabetic regime of synthetic drugs, then
the usage of fenugreek seeds is strictly prohibited as it might excessively
lower blood glucose level, causing fatal conditions but cinnamon can be
consumed to maintain the lowered level of blood sugar.
Physical
exercises, pranayams and yoga catalyses the activity of any anti-diabetic drug,
by lowering stress and maintaining the normal lipid content of the body