Page 26 - IMO-2-2

Innovative Medicines & Omics

REVIEW ARTICLE
Diabetes mellitus: An updated overview and role

of medicinal plants in modern treatment

Ashish Vishwakarma 1 , Vasudev Biswas 1 , Faizul Hasan 2 , Asma Praveen 1 ,
and Divya Sharma *
1
1 Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Delhi
Pharmaceutical Science and Research University, New Delhi, India
2 Department of Pharmacy, Metro College of Health Sciences and Research, Greater Noida, Uttar
Pradesh, India

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by inadequate
insulin production or peripheral insulin resistance, leading to persistent hyperglycemia.
Prolonged hyperglycemia levels can cause severe complications, including
nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes is
classified into four main types: Type 1 DM, type 2 DM, gestational DM, and maturity-
onset diabetes of the young, each with distinct etiologies and clinical manifestations.
Present therapeutic strategies encompass pharmacological interventions and
lifestyle modifications; however, these approaches have limitations, such as adverse
effects and reduced efficacy over time. Cutting-edge treatments, including stem cell
therapy, gene therapy, nanotechnology, and medicinal plant-based therapies, offer
promising avenues for improved diabetes management and potential cure. Several
*Corresponding author: medicinal plants, including gudmar, bitter melon, and fenugreek, contain natural
Divya Sharma compounds that regulate blood glucose levels, boost insulin secretion, and mitigate
(divyasharmapharmacy@gmail.
com) oxidative stress, positioning them as valuable adjuncts in diabetes management. This
review provides a comprehensive analysis of diabetes pathophysiology, classification,
Citation: Vishwakarma A, Biswas V,
Hasan F, Praveen A, Sharma D. and present management strategies, highlighting the necessity for novel treatment
Diabetes mellitus: An updated approaches in response to the global diabetes epidemic.
overview and role of medicinal
plants in modern treatment. Innov
Med Omics. 2025;2(2):20-35. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Pathophysiology; Treatment; Medicinal plants
doi: 10.36922/imo.7520
Received: December 13, 2024
Revised: February 23, 2025
Accepted: March 3, 2025
Published online: March 27, 2025 1. Introduction
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insufficient
This is an Open-Access article insulin production and peripheral insulin resistance, leading to persistent hyperglycemia.
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution Prolonged exposure to elevated blood glucose levels causes progressive damage to
1
License, permitting distribution, multiple organ systems, primarily affecting adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and the
and reproduction in any medium, liver. These effects manifest at various physiological levels, including insulin receptors,
provided the original work is
properly cited. signal transduction pathways, and/or effector enzymes or genes involved in glucose
metabolism (Figure 1).
2
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with The hallmark symptoms of hyperglycemia include polydipsia (increased thirst),
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional polyuria (frequent urination), unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, and polyphagia
affiliations. (increased appetite). In addition, chronic hyperglycemia contributes to growth

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 20 doi: 10.36922/imo.7520