Natural remedies for diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and a progressive disease that needs proper attention as uncontrolled diabetes can lead to various acute and chronic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, gastropathy etc. Pharmacological management of diabetes is costly and has certain side effects. There is a need for the usage of natural diet in the management of diabetes, as it will be cost effective, easy to use and having no side effects. Healthy individuals must also be aware of healthy eating routines. The purpose of this review article is to highlight the importance of dietary management of diabetes. More than 81 plant species have anti-diabetic activities. In this review article, some of the most commonly used natural anti-diabetic sources are mentioned, some of which have already been used for management of diabetes since ancient times.Tariq et al., International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, October 2016, 5(11): 97-102http://www.icpjonline.com/documents/Vol5Issue11/02.pdf

Anti-Diabetic Potential of Ocimum gratissimum Leaf Fractions in Fortified Diet-Fed Streptozotocin Treated Rat Model of Type-2 Diabetes

“…It occurs either as a result of pancreatic defects in insulin secretion or the failure of the receptor cells to effectively utilise secreted insulin or both [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Hyperglycaemia is a common consequence of uncontrolled diabetes, which may over time lead to serious damage to vascular tissue, heart, eyes, nerves and kidneys [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]. Diabetes is no longer a disease of predominantly rich nations; its prevalence is steadily increasing across the globe—age [ 3 , 5 ], gender, socioeconomic status and ethnicity of the individual [ 6 ] notwithstanding.…”

“…The existing therapeutic remedies (which include just four core categories of oral hypoglycemic agents viz: biguanide, glucosidase inhibitors, sulfonylurea and pioglitazone) are grossly inadequate [ 7 ]. More so, they are synthetic drugs that have several strong adverse effects like liver problems, lactic acidosis and diarrhoea [ 4 , 7 , 8 ]. Researchers have thus turned their collective attention to nature, and the vast diversity of global flora for less toxic but viable solutions.…”

“…Plants with known and suspected therapeutic potencies have long been used in alternative and complementary medicine. Numerous scientific reports exist, describing the relatively low toxicity and effectiveness of select plants in the management of diabetes [ 4 , 9 , 10 ]. In Nigeria, Ocimum gratissimum is one of the many plants found to lower glycaemia in Type-1 diabetes (T1D) [ 8 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Pharmaceutical Drugs and Natural Therapeutic Products for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Natural therapeutic products for the treatment of T2DM focus on main pathophysiological mechanisms, identical to those of pharmaceutical agents, e.g., regulation of insulin secretion, enhancement of insulin resistance, and insulin sensitivity [ 117 , 118 ]. They also influence adverse concentrations of blood lipids, focusing on achieving the suitable energy to balance weight and diabetic complications, and improve health conditions [ 119 ]. While the prolonged administration of pharmaceutical drugs may cause many side effects, herbal medicines are non-toxic with a mild action and a minimal risk of contraindications or harmful impacts [ 120 , 121 ].…”