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Today, the gravity of diabetes is more serious than ever imagined. Let’s take a look at the statements published by the WHO to help us understand better the menacing magnitude of this problem rampant worldwide.
Diabetes Mellitus is set to double from 177 million in 2000 to about 366 million in 2030.
In 2005, an estimated 1.1 million people died because of Diabetes.
W.H.O estimates that diabetes death will increase by 50% in the next 10 years |
| What Is Diabetes Mellitus ? |
 Diabetes mellitus is the disease in which glucose/sugar levels in
the blood are increased. Increase in blood sugar level is called as hyperglycemia.
Two tests are commonly conducted to measure the glucose in the
blood.
Fasting blood glucose: This test measures glucose in the blood
after overnight fasting. If the fasting glucose is more than or equal to 126mg/
dl, the person is a diabetic.
Post-prandial (after-food) glucose: This test measures glucose in
the blood 2 hours after consuming food that contains glucose load. If
post-prandial glucose is more than or equal to 200mg/dl, the person is a
diabetic.
 Pancreas is an organ
from the digestive system that secretes
insulin. Insulin is required to
convert sugars and other food ingredients
into energy. Insulin opens
the doors of cells and allows glucose
to enter the cells. In brief, the
action of insulin is such that it utilizes
the glucose from the blood and
reduces the blood sugar/glucose
levels. |
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| Insulin promotes utilization of glucose and reduces blood glucose levels |
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In the occurrence of diabetes, the body either does not produce
adequate amount of insulin or it cannot properly utilize the insulin that is
produced by the pancreas. Depending on the nature of abnormality, diabetes
can be classified into the below given sub-types:
Type 1 diabetes: In the case of type 1 diabetes, the body fails to
produce adequate insulin. This lack of insulin prevents optimum utilization
of glucose and therefore increases glucose in the blood.
Type 2 diabetes: In the case of type 2 diabetes, the body fails to
utilize the insulin that is produced by the pancreas. This is known as insulin
resistance. Insulin resistance prevents utilization of glucose and therefore
increases glucose in the blood.
Pre-diabetes: Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a
person• s blood glucose is higher than normal but not high enough for a
diagnosis of diabetes. In the case of Pre-diabetes, the fasting blood glucose
is between 110 …126mg/dl and post-prandial blood glucose is between
140-200mg/dl. |
| Symptoms Of Diabetes |
| Following are the symptoms of diabetes. |
 |
 Loss of weight without any obvious reason.
Excessive thirst (polydipsia), Excessive hunger (polyphagia) and Frequent
urination (polyuria).
Fatigue, Fainting, Dizziness and Leg pain when walking.
Delayed healing of wounds. |
 The chance of
someone noticing these symptoms
as being an abnormality
at an early stage is very little.
And even if noticed, it is highly
unlikely that one will think of
it as being diabetes. This is the
primary reason for the disease
getting diagnosed at an uncomfortably
later stage making diabetes a very dangerous disease. The
only way to check this abnormality at an early stage is to remain alert and
attentive to the body and be educated about the disease. |
| Complications Of Diabetes |
Diabetes is not dangerous because of the symptoms that it produces,
but is so due to the complications it presents. These complications
are primarily associated with the damage of blood vessels supplying blood
to the organs.
 Heart diseases: Heart diseases are responsible
for up to 80% of deaths in people with diabetes. Diabetes
affects blood vessels and hampers blood circulation
thus increasing the chances of heart diseases.
 Nephropathy: Diabetes is among the leading
causes of kidney failure. Diabetes damages the kidneys
and
can cause kidney failure.
 Retinopathy: Diabetes, by damaging the retina
(screen of the eye ball) can produce blindness. Diabetic
retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness and visual disability.
WHO data suggests that after 15 years of diabetes,
approximately 2% of people become blind, while
about 10% develop severe visual handicap.
 Neuropathy: Diabetic neuropathy is probably
the most common of all complications. Neuropathy is the
abnormality of the nerves. Up to 50% of people with diabetes
are affected by this to some degree. Neuropathy
can lead to the loss of sensation and subsequently damage
to the limbs. It is also a major cause of impotence in
male diabetics.
 Infection: Diabetics get infected easily and once
infected, their infections are not easily cured. Excess glucose
in the blood not only makes it easy for foreign organisms
to remain in the body but also weakens the defense
mechanism of the body.
 Diabetic foot: Diabetic damage of blood vessels
and nerves in the foot may produce foot ulcerations,
which in long run may require amputation of foot. |
| Oxidative Stress In Diabetes |
To understand the role of oxidative stress in diabetes it is essential
to know about certain elements called as the free radicals.
An atom has protons and neutrons at its center and electrons
revolving around the center in orbits. In normal conditions, these electrons
are found in pairs. If an electron revolving around the center is not
paired, the species is called as free radical .Free radicals are unstable and
highly reactive. To achieve stability they • rob
• electrons from the surrounding
molecules to produce an electron pair. Due to this, the molecule from
which the electron is removed becomes unstable and turns into a free
radical. This process of • robbing • repeats with the new free radical and the
chain progresses. In this way, a single radical is capable of producing a
sequence of electron transfer reactions. The process of the removal of electron
is called as oxidation. And the stress thus generated by the free radicals
is called as oxidative stress.
These free radicals attack fatty acids and proteins in cell membranes
and cause damage to it. Free radicals also damage the DNA.
Free radicals and oxidative
stress play a crucial role
in diabetes. Maximum oxidative
stress is generated after consumption
of food. Oxidative
stress is generated in diabetes
due to two reasons.
1. Increased glucose in the
blood: In the human
body, glucose combines with proteins and generates free radicals.
Excess glucose in diabetes generates surplus free radicals and higher
oxidative stress.
2. Deficiency of insulin: Insulin regulates various oxidation-reduction
Stable Atom
Electron Transfer
processes in the body. Deficiency of insulin also generates oxidative
stress. |
| Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of
complications in diabetes. |
|
| Increased oxidative stress in diabetes causes an impairment of
the functioning of cells in the insulin producing pancreas. Oxidative stress
also increases insulin resistance and opposes the effects of insulin. This is
how important oxidative stress is in the development of complications in
diabetes. Additionally, this oxidative stress (in diabetes) can damage the
endothelium (inner lining) of blood vessels: the complications of diabetes
are primarily associated with the damage of blood vessels supplying blood
to the organs. |
| Antioxidants And Diabetes |
Antioxidants are substances whose presence, in relatively low
concentrations, significantly inhibits the rate of oxidation. It is the counter
to the process of oxidation. Antioxidants deal with these free radicals and
control oxidative stress. Every diabetic person is exposed to oxidative stress
due to an excessive burden of free radicals. To neutralize this oxidative
stress our body has a store of natural antioxidants present in the form of
various secretions such as Albumin, Bilirubin, Estrogen, etc. These are the
Natural (physiological) antioxidants that our body uses to fight off the potential
(damage) threat posed by oxidative stress. These natural antioxidants,
which are synthesized in our bodies, may not be always sufficient
to take care of the additional burden of free radicals generated in diabetes.
So, we need to extract antioxidants from our diet. But our supposedly
• modernŽ, and deviously unhealthy, food habits prevent the sufficient intake
of the much needed dietary antioxidants. This is the reason why we
need additional supply of antioxidants.
Various herbal antioxidants present in nature have the potential
to offer a range of advantages in diabetes. Following information cites the
evidence of medicinal advantages of some herbal antioxidants in diabetes. |
| Diabetes, Insulin And Herbal Antioxidnats |
Islets in the pancreas are responsible for the production of insulin.
In an experimental trial Goji BerryLy (cium barbarum), an herbal antioxidant, was found to protect these islets and maintain insulin secretion in
diabetes. Goji Berry also improves sensitivity of the body to insulin and
potentiates the effects of insulin1 .In a study, Grape Seed extract, another
herbal antioxidant, has shown effects similar to those of insulin. Though
the mechanism is different, it was found to be complementary to that of
insulin. This effect is known as the insulinomimetic effect, literally meaning• effect similar to insuli2n• . |
| Goji Berry improves secretion and utilization of insulin |
|
An experimental study also reports that anthocyanins and
anthocyanidins present in Grape Seed extract may have a positive effect on
the insulin secretion and be useful in preventing and treating diabete3s.
Goji Berry extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels.
4 Aloe Vera juice, one of the most valuable herbal antioxidants, has
been tested for its effect on the blood glucose levels. It is proven that Aloe
Vera juice can provide vital support to the human body in maintaining
proper blood glucose levels, especially in people with diabete5s. |
| Aloe Vera supports the human body in maintaining proper blood
glucose levels |
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| Diabetes - Cholesterol And Herbal Antioxidants |
Cholesterol travels around the body in tiny clumps of fat and
protein called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is
termed as the bad cholesterol while High-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(HDL-C) is termed as the good cholesterol.
High cholesterol levels in the blood lead to the deposition of
LDL-C (bad cholesterol) on the blood vessels. This results in the formation
of plaque and a loss of elasticity in blood vessels. This hardening of arteries
is called as atherosclerosis. Thus, cholesterol generates narrow and hard
arteries. This narrowing of blood vessels increases the blood pressure. It
also can block blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack.
Diabetics have a higher chance of developing heart diseases.
Hence, controlling cholesterol levels is one of the major objectives in the
management of diabetes.
The close association of diabetes with cholesterol is because of
the following reasons-
In diabetic patients, chances of LDL cholesterol getting deposited
in blood vessels are more compared to normal people.
In diabetes, the blood sugar levels are high. Excess sugar coats the
LDL cholesterol. This sugar coated LDL cholesterol remains in the
blood for a longer time.
Diabetics have a tendency to possess lesser HDL cholesterol (called
as the good cholesterol because it has the potential to carry away
deposited cholesterol from the blood vessels).
 Diabetes
High LDL and Low HDL
Atherosclerosis
Heart Diseases
Various herbal antioxidants have been researched to evaluate
their effect on cholesterol levels. The beneficial role of these ingredients
may have positive impact on the outcome of diabetes. Heart disease is
one of the most serious diabetes related complications, accounting for the
majority of diabetes-related deaths.
Clinical studies have proven the beneficial effect of Green Tea,
an herbal antioxidant, on the blood cholesterol. Green Tea reduces LDL-C
(bad cholesterol) and increases HDL-C (good cholesterol). This reduces the chances of atherosclerosis and subsequently reduces the chances of heart
diseases due to diabetes6.,7
Aloe Vera was shown to reduce blood cholesterol associated
with aging8.
Goji Berry extract was also found to reduce serum total cholesterol
(TC) while at the same time markedly increase high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (HDL-C) levels9. |
| Green Tea reduces LDL-C (bad cholesterol) and increases HDL-C
(good cholesterol). |
|
| Diabetes, Obesity And Herbal Antioxidants |
 Obesity and diabetes
are closely associated. Obesity
or being extremely overweight
is responsible for the
poor control of diabetes as it
produces higher chances of
developing insulin resistance.
In other words, obesity reduces
efficiency of insulin and produces
a rise in the sugar levels.
This is the reason why obese
diabetics are more at risk of developing diabetes related complications
compared to non-obese diabetics.
Green Tea shows a promising effect in controlling obesity. Its
regular consumption reduces body weight, waist circumference, body fat mass, fat under the skin and BMI (body mass inde1x0).
It has also been seen that Goji Berry reduces weight and decreases
the chances of diabetic complications that are associated with obesity. |
| Green Tea reduces body weight, body fat mass and BMI |
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| Diabetes, Nephropathy And Herbal Antioxidants |
| Diabetes is among the chief causes
of kidney failure. In an experimental study the
effect of Aloe Vera was evaluated on the diabetic
kidney. The result was assessed by various
biochemical secretions in the body and
by examining the changes in the structure of
the kidney. It was observed that Aloe Vera
might protect kidney tissue from the damage
caused by diabetes12. |
| Aloe Vera may protect kidney tissue from the damage caused by
diabetes. |
|
| Diabetes, Retinopathy And Herbal Antioxidants |
 Diabetes and its complications
cause damage to the retina
(screen of the eye ball) and could produce
blindness. Diabetic retinopathy
is a leading cause of blindness and
visual disability among the affected.
A study has shown that Goji Berry
may protect against retinal damage
in the case of diabetes. The study suggests
that it may play a role in preventing
injury caused by oxidative
stress of the retina13. |
| Goji Berry may protect retina from the damage caused by diabetes |
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| Beneficial Interaction Of Herbal Antioxidants |
Aloe Vera reduces oxidative stress not only by providing antioxidant
activity, but also by furnishing an additional advantage. Vitamin E
and Vitamin C are two dietary antioxidants consumed during daily meals.
A study has proven that if these vitamins are consumed along with Aloe
Vera, the concentration of Vitamin C and Vitamin E is found to be higher
in the blood compared to the concentration when they are consumed
without Aloe Vera. The study therefore suggests that Aloe Vera can increase
the absorption of Vitamin C and E and thus add to the antioxidant defense of the body14. |
| Aloe Vera improves absorption of Vitamin E and C |
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| SUMMARY |
| Herbal antioxidants offer diverse advantages in diabetes such
as |
Improved secretion of insulin
Improved utilization of insulin
Optimum blood sugar levels
Reduction in LDL-C (bad cholesterol)
Rise in HDL-C (good cholesterol)
Reduction in body weight and body fat mass
Protection of kidney from diabetic damage
Protection of retina from diabetic damage
Improved absorption of Vitamin E and C |
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