Abstract :
Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose level. In most of the cases , it develops due to deficiency of insulin. Homoeopathy is considered as one of the very best alternative systems for treating Diabetes Mellitus & its complications. This article reviews the Homoeopathic perspective on Diabetes Mellitus, including key remedies and diagnostic criteria.
Epidemiology :
T1DM is the most common metabolic disorder. It is found mainly in Finland. T2DM has seen 80%-90% of diabetic population.
Keywords :
Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin level , Type-1 Diabetes , Type-2 Diabetes , Blood Glucose level
Introduction :
Diabetes Mellitus is taken from a Greek word. Diabetes Means Polyuria And Mellitus Means Honey. Diabetes Mellitus is a disease of inadequate control of blood levels of glucose. It has many classifications like Type-1 , Type-2 , Gestational Diabetes , Neonatal Diabetes and Steroid induced Diabetes , etc… Diabetes may be primary or secondary.
Primary Diabetes Mellitus :
It is unrelated to other diseases. It includes Type-1 Diabetes and Type-2 Diabetes.
Type-1 Diabetes :
It is also known as Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus , Because the person who is suffering from T1DM requires Insulin Injections on daily or alternative bases. T1DM is triggered by an auto-immune response in which destruction of beta cells in islets of Langerhans occurs that are insulin producing cells in our body. This type of Diabetes Mellitus may occur at the age of 40. The level of Beta cells breakdown varies in all the patients. It may develop rapidly and progresses at a rapid phase and it also may develop slowly. It is associated with acidosis or ketosis.
Type-2 Diabetes :
In T2DM our body is unable to use insulin. There is the failure of insulin receptors to give response to insulin. T2DM affects 90-95% of the diabetic population. Many individuals with T2DM are obese, indicating that obesity may induce some sort of insulin resistance. Most of the symptoms of T2DM are developed slowly.
Secondary Diabetes Mellitus :
It is very rare. It may be temporary or permanent. It is seen only in 2-3% of the population.
Diabetes in Pregnant Women :
Pregnant women may develop pre-diabetic state. It is known as Gestational Diabetes. Pregnant women should be tested for GDM. 60-90% of women are suffering from this. All 30% of them develop DM within 7 to 10 years after the index pregnancies.
Pathophysiology :
It involves intricate interactions between genetics, environmental factors and lifestyle choices. T1DM is characterized by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells & resulting in insulin deficiency. T2DM primarily arises from insulin resistance in peripheral tissues.
Clinical Approach :
Clinical features of DM are variable and are depend upon the type of diabetes and the stage of natural history of diabetes.
NATURAL HISTORY OF DM
Main Signs & Symptoms :
~ Glucosuria
~ Polydipsia
~ Polyphagia
~ Polyuria
~ Circulatory Shock
~ Osmotic Diuresis
Investigations :
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
HbA1c
Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG)
Management :
We can manage DM by lifestyle modifications like ;
~ Doing exercise regularly , if possible 30-40 mins.
~ Stop smoking.
~ Reducing the amount of sugar , fat and salt in your diet.
~ Daily monitoring and controlling of body sugar. Etc…
Homoeopathic Management :
Homoeopathic medicines are based on the totality of symptoms of the patient as it considers lifestyle habits, diet habits, physical symptoms, mental symptoms and other related clinical complaints. So, it can improve the hyperglycemic state of the patient. Homoeopathy holds a very special place in management and prevention of diabetes mellitus. There are so many remedies for DM management.
- Abroma Augusta :
Abroma Augusta Q is prepared from the moist leaves of the plant and contains 42 – 46% v/v alcohol. Abroma Augusta Q has mild hypoglycemic potential at doses of 50 micro liter, 70 micro liter and 0.1 ml/100 g b.w. in alloxan – induced diabetic rats without stabilization of blood glucose levels.
- Curare :
Diabetes acutissimus , threatening life , clear and frequent urine , with digging , crampy pains in kidneys , shooting in stomach , dry mouth , great thirst , especially evenings and at night , sugar in urine , great emaciation.
- Insulinum :
It maintains the blood sugar at a normal level and the urine remains free of sugar. Epileptic convulsions and mental derangements have been produced by hypodermic use of this hormone.
- Lycopodium Clavatum :
Thirst and hunger constant , worse at night , flatulence , faeces small in quantity, mental nervous and bodily exhaustion.
- Natrum Mur :
Unqunchable thirst with polyuria, skin cold, loss of appetite, sleep disturbed or lost, urine escapes involuntarily when urinate. Passes urine very frequently almost every hour at night.
- Pancreatinum :
Pancreatinum has ben used with success in conditions due to disease or faulty action of the pancreas on the analogy of thyroidin and the other sarcodes.
- Phosphoricum Acidum :
Diabetes of nervous patient , excellent remedy for stressed induced diabetes , physical soreness due to grief, Frequent and profuse urination, Abundant sugar in urine.
- Phosphorus :
Glycosuria with phthisis , urine profuse , pale , watery or turbid whitish like curded milk , with brickdust sediment , gouty diathesis , cerebral disease.
- Syzygium Jambolinum :
One of the best remedies for blood sugar , the patient passes urine in large quantities , great thirst, mother tincture is often used.
- Urenium Nitricum :
This remedy is praised in diabetes originating in dyspepsia. It has polyuria, polydipsia, dryness of the mouth and skin. No remedy gives such universally good results but it lessens the sugar and quantity of urine.
References :
- API Textbook of Medicine
- Essentials of Medical Physiology by K Sembulingam
- Homoeopathic Therapeutics by S Lilienthal
- Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory by William Boericke
- A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica by John Henry Clarke
