SSR Inst. Int. J. Life. Sci., 5(4): 2361-2364, July 2019

 

Control of Diabetes through Phytomedicine-A Case Report

 

Prof.em.Dr. Ather Amina¹*, Umme Umarah Nusaibah²

¹Research Head, Department of RIDM (Research, Innovation, Development and Marketing), System 4 Technologies, Oldenburg, Germany

²Student, Department of RIDM (Research, Innovation Development and Marketing), System 4 Technologies, Oldenburg, Germany

 

^*Address for Correspondence: Prof.em.Dr. Ather Amina, Research Head, Department of RIDM (Research, Innovation, Marketing and Development), System 4 Technologies, Oldenburg, Germany

E-mail: a.ather@system4-technologies.com

 

ABSTRACT- Background- The prevalence of Diabetes is growing worldwide. The primary symptom of Diabetes mellitus is elevated blood sugar. This is usually treated with lifestyle intervention and drugs.

Methods- A 60 year old female was diagnosed with Diabetes with a random sugar level of 350 mg/dL^-1 six months back. The doctor prescribed Tablet Metformin (HCl) 500 mg once a day to patient and advised blood sugar test after the end of 15 days medication followed by blood sugar test to continue with above medication for till the life. This study was being conducted in the beginning of March month to May month, in the Department of RIDM (Research, Innovation, Development and Marketing) system 4 technologies, Oldenburg, Germany.

Results: The above treatment was not found satisfactory to the patient as she was having associated problem with this medication like stomach ache and nausea. However after starting with Unani treatment followed by meditation and morning walk, patient started to recover and feel satisfied with this treatment within a one month.

Conclusion: The Unani treatment can be considered as most effective because of its ability to control blood sugar level along with boosting the immunity power also having fewer or no side effects as compared to that of allopathic medicine.

Key Words: Diabetes, Heterogeneous, Life-threatening diseases, Metformin, Phytomedicine

 

INTRODUCTION- Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the most leading chronic, heterogeneous and life-threatening diseases and today it has spread to every region of the globe. The prevalence of DM will be 5.4% by the year 2025, with the global diabetic population reaching to 300 million ^[1]. In a diabetic patient, frequent urination, increased hunger and thirst, decreased bodyweight, blurred vision, itching and tiredness are common symptoms ^[2]. Diabetes, particularly type 2 is associated with various cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic heart disease and stroke and it is the major cause of non-traumatic blindness and renal failure ^[3]. Nowadays, there are a lot of options available to treat type 2 Diabetes with the help of various anti-hyperglycemic medications, such as insulin, sulfonylureas and Metformin. Although, these drugs have ability to reduce blood sugar level but the recommendation of one class of anti-hyperglycemic agents or a certain combination to treat complications of Diabetes is still difficult ^[4].On the other hand Unani medicine has the ability to treat Diabetes in various ways like diet planning exercise; as good lifestyle, healthy food and exercise will always remain effective in the management of Diabetes. Moreover, Unani herbs like Azadirachta indica, Momordica charantia, and Murraya koenigii. Here in, a case study is discussed based on the treatment Diabetes with the help of both allopathic and ayurvedic medicines in which phytomedicine treatment were found more effective.

 

CASE REPORT- A 60 year old Indian female was coincidentally diagnosed with Diabetes around 6 months back with a random blood sugar level of 325 mg/dL as measured by a blood glucose monitoring device (ONE TOUCH select simple, life’scan Europe division cilag GmbH International Switzerland). Surprisingly she was not having any symptoms of Diabetes.her blood sugar level was randomly checked at home i.e. 350 mg/dL. In the next day observation, the fasting blood glucose level was found to 165 mg/dL and post prandial (PP) glucose level was found to 190 mg/dL. After this shocking revelation she consulted to a general physician. Before starting the treatment the doctor asked her about her previous medical history and he found no history of hypothyroidism, kidney diseases, hypertension.In addition her father-in-law was a type 2 Diabetes patient for the past 10 years as per doctors measurements her weight was 58 kg, height was 152 impulse rate 92 bpm and blood pressure was 130/80 mmHg. The doctor prescribed Metformin HCl (500 mg) once a day for 15 days and advised some blood tests after 15 day medication. The blood tests advised by the doctor for sugar (F/PP). The doctor also advised to stop rich sugar foods like rice sweets etc. Immediate after starting the treatment, she complained of nausea and could not intake proper food. She consulted the doctor again about this problem but doctor told her that this is normal and she has to continue her treatment. She completed her 15 days treatment with very difficult time and went to pathology lab for blood tests as advised by the doctor. The pathology report of the woman is given in Table 1.

After studying the above report, the doctor advised to continue with Metformin HCl (500 mg) once a day for next 30 days. During this treatment, the women continued having problem of nausea, indigestion and acidity. Thereafter, doctor advised to continue this treatment for one more month. The patient started to worry about the association problems like acidity nausea etc, started to search another doctor for her treatment.

 

Table 1: Laboratory data of the patient

 

Examination	Observed value	Reference range
Fasting Blood glucose	105 mg/dL	70-100 mg/dL
*Post Prandial Blood glucose	173 mg/dL	70-150 mg/dL

*After 2 h of meal

 

Finally, she consulted a Unani researcher cum doctor and shared her whole medical history with her. After examining all the  reports  and  earlier  prescription, the doctor advise first to stop the medication then a detox therapy which is called Munzij (concoction) and Mushil (purgation) which included as regimental therapies ^[5]. In Unani medicine, for a week in which patient has to followed strictly eat only raw vegetables like cucumber, sprouted beans, soaked chana (Bengal gram), soaked peanuts for 7 days along with tamarind water in early morning she advised the patient for blood sugar level after 7 day’s. Doctor advised to do dry cupping ^[6] on particular points that removed the toxins from the body of the patient.

The patient followed doctor's adviced and after 7 days, she gone to the pathology lab for blood sugar level test. Her Fasting blood glucose level was found to 110 mg/dL and post prandial 136 mg/dL. The laboratory report is given in Table 2.

 

Table 2: Laboratory data of the patient with reference values for the tests 

 

Examination	Observed value	Reference range
Fasting Blood glucose	110	70-100 mg/dL
Post Prandial Blood glucose	136	70-150 mg/dL

 

Patient was mesmerized seeing the result and she wanted to continue with further treatment. Doctor prescribed her 3 month course to treat Diabetes in which she advised spleen detox (Wheat grass  juice 1 glass every day empty stomach),Colon cleansing (2 drops of almond oil with 1 cup of warm water every night before sleeping. Mint and warm water in morning empty stomach before wheat grass juice). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant diet (Ginger in the diet, Fish Salmon smoked salmon with wheat bread for breakfast salmon with rosemary for dinner. Food rich in beta cartoon like carrot and pumpkin), increase immunity, regularly herb tinospora cordifolia balliin 500 mg/day called Amrutha Balli Indian language.

 Monday Anti-inflammatory: Zingiber officinale Rosc Ginger 5mg once in a day. Tuesday Liminoids,and polyphenolic flavonoid Neem Azadirachtaindica5mg once in a day. Wednesday triterpenoids and saponins Centella asiatica (Brahmi): 5 gm once in a day, Thursday, Steroidal Lactones Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha): 5 gm once in a day. Friday Momordica charantia karela 5 gm once in a day. Saturday Stomachic and Nicotinic acid: Murayya koenigii (curry leaf) 5 mg once in a day. Sunday Anti-inflammatory and blood thinner Hibiscus Hibiscusrosa-sinensis 5gm. Along with vitamin D3, (taken sunlight in early morning), 30 minute meditation for helping in oxidation of blood, early morning walk, breathing exercise daily. As per doctor’s advice, she was continuing the exercises and morning walk and the patient feeling nausea and could not taken improper food, now she can take proper food and the nausea was stopped. Now she is living freely managing diet and stress.

 

DISCUSSION- There  are  so  many  reasons  behind  Diabetes,  in  which genetic  factor  is  considered  to  be  a  most  possible  cause. Besides, stress, unhealthy lifestyle and imbalanced diet are also the major causes of Diabetes ^[7]. In the present case stress, unhealthy lifestyle, lack of exercise might be the possible cause of Diabetes. Higher levels of stress can cause the blood glucose to rise, which was supported by various evidence-based studies. High stress in life may affect Diabetes in terms of both its onset and its exacerbation through physiological mechanisms and via behavior ^[8]. In present case, the stress may be  the  major  cause  of  type  2  Diabetes  in  woman  as  she  was stressful due to over workload of her house hold work apart from above causes, the menopause is one of the factor, after menopause estrogen level becomes low that tend to adversely affect body fat distribution and accumulation, appetite, insulin secretion, glucose homeostasis, increases the risk of developing type 2 Diabetes in women ^[9].

The treatment  of  Diabetes  is  challenging,  although  its management is possible  with  the  help of  medication  and improved  lifestyle ^[10]. The allopathic drugs i.e. Metformin used to manage type 2 Diabetes in the present case were found unsatisfactory to the patient as woman could not relieve the nausea etc symptoms having associated with this medication. Hence, there was an urgent need of alternative treatment to control blood sugar level and to avoid possible complications due to type 2 Diabetes.

 

CONCLUSIONS- Use of phytomedicine or Unani herbs i.e. tinospora cordifolia balliin, Azadirachta indica, Centella asiatica, Zingiber officinale Rosc., Withania somnifera, Momordica charantia, Murayya koenigii, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was found effective to control blood sugar level, increasing the immunity power and reduces the possible complications of Diabetes. This alternative treatment can be considered as most effective treatment  because  of  its  ability  to  control  blood  sugar level  and  also having  fewer  side  effects  as  compared  to  that  of  allopathic medicines.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS- All Authors were Thankful to the Department of RIDM for providing all necessary facilities.

 

CONTRIBUTION OF AUTHORS

Research concept- Prof.em.Dr.Ather A

 Research design- Prof.em.Dr.Ather A

Supervision- Prof.em.Dr.Ather A

Materials- Dr. Umme Umarah Nusaibah

 Data collection- Dr. Umme Umarah Nusaibah

 Data analysis and Interpretation- Prof.em.Dr.Ather A

Literature search- Prof.em.Dr.Ather A, Dr. Umme Umarah Nusaibah

 Writing article- Dr. Umme Umarah Nusaibah

 Critical review- Prof.em.Dr.Ather A

Article editing- Prof.em.Dr.Ather A

Final approval- Prof.em.Dr.Ather A

 

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