Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes Treatment Over the past few years there has been significant growth in the field of herbal medicine and these drugs are gaining popularity both in developing and developed countries due to their natural origin and minimal side effects. Many of the traditional medicines used are found in medicinal plants, minerals and organic matter [1]. Several medicinal plants, commonly used for more than 1000 years called rasayana are present in the medicinal preparations of traditional Indian health care systems [2]. In Indian medical systems most workers create and produce their own recipes [3]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed 21,000 plants, which are used for medicinal purposes worldwide. Of these 2,500 species are found in India, of which 150 are used commercially. India is a major producer of medicinal plants and is called the world's botanical garden [3]. The current review focuses on the preparation of herbal remedies and herbs used to treat diabetes, the world's most debilitating disease leading to significant economic losses. Traditional medicines found in medicinal plants are used by about 60% of the world's population. This review focuses on Indian Herbal medicines and herbs used to treat diabetes, particularly in India. Diabetes is an important disease that affects many people from different walks of life in different countries. In India it seems to be a major health problem, especially in urban areas. Although there are various ways to reduce the side effects of diabetes and its secondary complications, herbal remedies are preferred because of the smaller side effects and lower costs. Compiled is a list of proven antidiabetic medicinal plants as well as beneficial effects related to the herbs used to treat diabetes. These include, Allium sativum, Eugenia jambolana, Momordica charantia Ocimum sanctum, Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Tinospora cordifolia, Trigonella foenum graecum and Withania somnifera. One of the etiologic factors involved in the development of diabetes and its complications is the damage caused by free radicals and therefore a combination of antioxidant antidiabetic compounds can be very beneficial. Therefore information on the antioxidant effects of these medicinal plants is included. Diabetes is a chronic disease of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism characterized by increased fasting and blood sugar levels after eating. It is estimated that the global epidemic of diabetes will increase, from 4% in 1995 to 5.4% by 2025. The World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that more responsibility will be needed in developing lands. A study conducted in India over the past decade has shown that the prevalence of diabetes is not only limited but also increasing rapidly in urban populations [4]. It is estimated that there are about 33 million adults with diabetes in India. That figure is likely to rise to 57.2 million by 2025. Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder caused by insulin dysfunction or insulin dysfunction. Type I diabetes (insulin-dependent) is caused by a deficiency of insulin due to a lack of active beta cells. Patients with this condition are therefore completely dependent on an external source of insulin while patients with Type II diabetes (independent insulin) can respond to insulin and can be treated with diet, exercise and medication. Type II diabetes is the most common type of diabetes that affects 90% of people with diabetes. Symptoms of both types of diabetes can include: (i) high blood sugar levels; (ii) abnormal thirst; (iii) frequent urination; (iv) severe hunger and weight loss; (v) misalignment; (vi) nausea and vomiting; (vii) extreme weakness and fatigue; (viii) irritability, mood swings etc. Although the pathophysiology of diabetes is still fully understood, experimental evidence raises the involvement of free radicals in the pathogenesis of diabetes [5] and is critical to the development of diabetic complications [6 - 6]. Free radicals can damage cell molecules, DNA, proteins and lipids leading to altered cellular function. Several recent studies suggest that antioxidants that are able to eliminate free radicals are effective in preventing diabetes mellitus in animal models [9, 10] and in reducing the severity of diabetes complications [8]. To improve diabetic complications, the imbalances produced in lipids and proteins are major etiologic factors. In patients with diabetes, more protein and longer life, such as elastin, lamin, collagen are the main targets of free radicals. These proteins are converted to glycoproteins due to hyperglycemia. Modification of these proteins present in tissues such as the lens, vascular wall and subcutaneous is associated with the development of diabetic complications such as cataract, microangiopathy, atherosclerosis and nephropathy [11]. During diabetes, lipoproteins are oxidized by free radicals. There are also many abnormalities of lipoprotein metabolism in low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) in sugar. Lipid peroxidation is enhanced due to increased oxidative stress in a diabetic setting. Apart from this, enhanced glycation end products (AGEs) are formed by non-enzymatic glycosylation of proteins. AGEs tend to accumulate long-term molecules in the muscles and perform abnormalities in cell and tissue functions [12, 13]. In addition, AGEs also contribute to increased vascular permeability in both small and macrovascular structures by binding to specific macrophage receptors. This causes the formation of free radicals and endothelial dysfunction. AGEs are also made up of nucleic acids and histones and may be responsible for genetic mutations and speech fluctuations. Since diabetes is round