415 million people worldwide are living with diabetes. It is estimated that in 2040, more than half a billion will have diabetes. Everyday, millions of people struggle with their blood sugar. And likely there are millions more that battle against that battle their blood sugar without even recognizing their symptoms, as most prediabetics are wholly unaware of their conditions.
Our cells depend on a single simple sugar, glucose, for most of our energy needs. The body has its own mechanisms to make sure glucose levels in the blood going to the right place. Most digestible carbohydrates will be converted into glucose and quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Any rise in blood sugar will signal the pancreas to make and release the hormone insulin, instructing cells to absorb the sugar, where it’s used for energy.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
There are different types of diabetes, including prediabetes, type I diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. The most common types are prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, which are largely influenced by carrying excess body fat, poor diet and lack of exercise.
High blood glucose levels can damage organs and tissues. Most common ones are blindness and kidney failure among adults. Diabetes often leads to mild to severe nerve damage, together with diabetes-related circulation problems, which can cause the loss of a leg or foot. Diabetes also significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes.
Is diabetes reversible?
Although there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, studies show it’s possible for some people to reverse it. The ‘reversed’ actually means that they were able to stop using diabetes medication after making healthy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, following a healthful diet, and exercising. If prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or gestational diabetes is detected early in individuals, the disease might be reverse or stop if they initiate healthy lifestyle changes. However, if these types of diabetes are not diagnosed early, the cells of the pancreas can become permanently damaged so that they no longer produce insulin. If this happens, diet and exercise alone may no longer be effective in controlling diabetes and lifelong medication maybe needed.
The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) to improve diabetes mellitus
A wide array of CAMs has been used with varying success in diabetes mellitus. Medicinal plants worldwide still play a prominent role in human health care. Over 80% of people living in developing countries depend on CAM for treatment health conditions. A number of herbal medicines and nutritional supplements have been shown to decrease blood glucose level through various mechanisms, and if used correctly, these effects can help people with diabetes to manage their disease and to improve their quality of life. Number of herbal supplements have shown to improve diabetes. These include the following.
Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre is regarded as one of the plants with potent anti diabetic properties, used in folk, ayurvedic and homeopathic systems of medicine. The active compound of the plant is a group of acids termed as gymnemic acids. Gymnemic acids have antidiabetic, antisweetener and anti-inflammatory activities. Gymnemic acids have the ability to delay the glucose absorption in the blood. As the atomic arrangement of gymnemic acid molecules is similar to that of glucose molecules, these molecules will fill the receptor locations on the taste buds, and thus limit their intake of sweet food. Besides that, it also fill the recptor location in the absorptive internal layers of the intestine, thus preventing the sugar molecules absorption by intestine, resulting low blood sugar level.
Aegle marmelos
Oxidative stress is produced under diabetic conditions and is likely involved in the progression of pancreatic damage found in diabetes. During diabetes, excess glucose present in the blood reacts with hemoglobin to form glycosylated hemoglobin. Level of glycated hemoglobin is considered as one of the markers of degree of oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus. Aegle marmelos is found to be containing antioxidative effects and act as a strong superoxide radical and singlet oxygen quenchers.
Asphaltum
Asphaltum, or also known as Shilajit, is one such herbomineral that has remained a crucial component in the process of healing since centuries. Shilajit is neither plant nor of animal origin, but a type of mineral that is made up of humus and decomposed plant remains, extracted from the rocks present in the Himalayas. The outstanding of hypoglycaemic property of asphaltum plays a key role in regulating blood glucose as well as improve lipid profiles in diabetes patients. It is reported that the derangement of glucose, fat and protein metabolism during diabetes, results into the development of hyperlipidemia. Asphlatum was shown to exert its effect difectly on lipid metabolic pathways by reducing total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and at the same increase HDL significantly.
Eugenia jambolana
Eugenia jambolana has been widely used in Indian traditional medicine for remedy of various ailments. Gallic acid and polyphenolic compounds was reported to help in stimulate pancreatic beta cells for insulin release against high blood glucose level, and thus regulate blood sugar level in the body. Besides that, a significant recovery in serum insulin level was shown in some studies as Eugenia jambolana has the ability to regenerate beta-cells and restore insulin sensitivity.
Ficus bengalensis
Ficus bengalensis is considered as holy tree of India. It has been reported lipid peroxidation increased oxidative stress as a result of excessive generation of free radicals. Reduction in lipid peroxidation can be attributed to the antioxidant activity of various phytochemicals in Ficus bengalensis. Besides that, it is also reported that these actives are shown to protect vital tissues such as liver and kidney.
As mentioned above, there are a number of natural herbal supplements that can be used to manage diabetes. However, it is important that you talk to your healthcare professionals before adding any supplement to diabetes plan.
References:
Kanetkar P, Singhal R, Kamat M. Gymnema sylvestre: A Memoir. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2007 Sep;41(2):77-81. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.2007010. PMID: 18193099; PMCID: PMC2170951.
Sabu MC, Kuttan R. Antidiabetic activity of Aegle marmelos and its relationship with its antioxidant properties. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2004 Jan;48(1):81-8. PMID: 15270373.
Choudhury H, Pandey M, Hua CK, Mun CS, Jing JK, Kong L, Ern LY, Ashraf NA, Kit SW, Yee TS, Pichika MR, Gorain B, Kesharwani P. An update on natural compounds in the remedy of diabetes mellitus: A systematic review. J Tradit Complement Med. 2017 Nov 29;8(3):361-376. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.08.012. PMID: 29992107; PMCID: PMC6035310.