Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease. usually occurring after age 30. Constant monitoring is thus vital.

WORLD Diabetes Day falls on Nov 14 each year. It was initiated by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1991.

The date commemorates the birthday of Frederick Banting, who with Charles Best, discovered insulin. Campaigns are carried out globally to help create awareness of the disease.



In Malaysia, diabetes affects about 1.2 million people. It’s a large number, and it continues to rise. Studies indicate that diabetes is generally under-reported on death certificates, particularly when deaths involve older people with multiple chronic conditions such as heart disease and hypertension. Because of this, the figure is believed to be much higher than officially reported.

Diabetes is actually a general term for a number of separate but related disorders. These disorders fall into two main categories which are Type 1, which usually occurs during childhood or adolescence, and Type 2, the most common form of the disease, usually occurring after age 30.

Of those Malaysians with diabetes, more than 98 per cent have Type 2 diabetes. The risk for Type 2 diabetes increases with age. Other risk factors include family history of diabetes, poor diet, low activity level, blood sugar imbalance and excess body weight, especially around the waist.
Type 2 diabetes can often be controlled through diet and exercise alone, but sometimes these are not enough and either oral medication or insulin must be used. Other alternatives such as herbs and nutrients may also complement the existing treatment regime.

The herb gymnema contains gymnemic acid which helps to regenerate the insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas and enhances the production of insulin. It also increases the activity of enzymes which facilitate the use of glucose by insulin-dependent pathways and increases the uptake of glucose into glycogen in liver, kidney and muscle.

Fenugreek contains trigonelline, coumarin, fibre and non-protein amino acids to help reduce the blood glucose. These two beneficial herbs are combined with holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) and bitter melon (Momordica charantia) for synergistic effects.

Studies support that gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre) enhances the production of endogenous insulin through regeneration of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

In one study, 22 Type 2 diabetics were given gymnema extract along with their oral hypoglycemic drugs. All patients demonstrated improved blood sugar control. Twenty-one out of the 22 subjects were able to reduce their drug dosage considerably. Five subjects were able to discontinue their medication and maintain blood sugar control with the gymnema extract alone.

It is interesting to note that gymnema extract is without side effects and exerts its blood sugar lowering effects only in cases of diabetes. Gymnema extract, when given to healthy volunteers, does not produce any blood sugar lowering or hypoglycemic effects.

Chronic high blood glucose levels are associated with nerve damage (neuropathies), which can be present in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. When nerve damage occurs at the hand and feet, the sufferer may complain of numbness. However, many signs of nerve damage happen internally and this affects nerve function controlling various organ systems.

Besides acting as an antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid is also an approved treatment for diabetic neuropathy in Germany. Numerous studies in both animals and humans have produced promising results with lipoic acid in neuropathy. In these studies, lipoic acid demonstrated antioxidant properties that help reduce problems such as reduced blood flow and oxygen to the tissues, which are pre-requisites of neuropathy.

In addition, some of these studies have revealed favourable lipoic acid effects that appear to be independent of its antioxidant properties, including increased glucose uptake.

A large placebo-controlled study on 72 patients with Type 2 diabetes using doses ranging from 600mg to 1,800mg of alpha-lipoic acid for four weeks also showed positive results (25 per cent improvement in insulin sensitivity).

Supplementation with alpha lipoic acid is also beneficial for complications of diabetes such as nerve damage, to help reduce pain, burning, tingling and numbness.

The writer is a pharmacist who is actively involved in the dissemination of information on natural healthcare and holistic therapies.

Free herb samples for early birds

IN conjunction with World Diabetes Day, BiO-LiFE is giving away free samples of Bio-Life Gymnema and Fenugreek 30s plus a booklet titled Blood Sugar Blues - In Control, In Balance to the first 100 callers (via phone and e-mails). Call 03-7728-7407 (Mon-Fri, 9am to 6pm) or e-mail health@biolife.com.my.


By : Yam Cher Seng