A Green Way to Combat Diabetes

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