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INNOSC Theranostics and
Pharmacological Sciences Medicinal plants: Natural diabetes remedies

regulated by several hormones, most of which increase and elderly individuals, as well as those who lack exercise.
glucose levels in circulation. Hormones such as glucagon, In addition, overweight, obese individuals, and those with
adrenaline, somatotropin, and cortisol are known to visceral fat are at greater risk of developing T2DM. T2DM
increase blood glucose levels. The endocrine gland secretes accounts for about 90% of all diabetic cases worldwide.
insulin, an endocrine hormone that helps food-derived In T2DM, the body either produces insufficient insulin
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glucose enters cells to be used as an energy source. or uses it improperly, or the body’s muscle, fat, and liver
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Typically, individuals develop diabetes when their body cells do not respond to insulin due to insulin resistance.
produces insufficient hypoglycemic agents or fails to use As a result, blood sugar cannot enter the cells to be stored
them effectively. As a result, glucose does not enter the cells and builds up in the blood. T2DM symptoms can be
and remains in the blood, increasing its concentration. 4 managed through exercise, weight loss, and a specialized
healthy diet. However, T2DM is a progressive disease that
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The pancreas produces insulin, which helps regulate gradually gets worse, potentially requiring insulin therapy.
blood sugar. Insulin is produced by a group of small cells
in the pancreas called the “islets of Langerhans” . When 2.3. GDM
blood sugar levels are too high, the islets release insulin,
allowing glucose to enter cells. The liver releases glucose The third form of diabetes, GDM, usually occurs in the
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into the bloodstream after being stimulated by glucagon second or third trimester of pregnancy. This type of
diabetes occurs only during pregnancy and can often be
to transform stored glucose (glycogen) into a usable resolved after the baby is born, although it might develop
form through a process called glycogenolysis. Several into T2DM later in life. Changes in hormones and weight
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pathogenesis pathways are involved in the development of gain during pregnancy can impair insulin functioning,
diabetes, including the destruction of beta-cells (β-cells) resulting in high blood glucose levels. Although GDM
in the pancreas, where insulin is produced, and anomalies usually disappears after pregnancy, most women who have
that lead to insulin resistance. Diabetes has long-term had it have a 40 – 60% chance of developing T2DM within
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complications, such as loss of vision, peripheral neuropathy 5 – 10 years. 14
with a risk of foot ulcers, and renal failure. 7
2.4. Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY)
2. Classification of DM
MODY is a non-autoimmune, monogenic form of diabetes
Diabetes is classified into several types, mainly type 1 DM characterized by the destruction of pancreatic β-cells and
(T1DM), type 2 DM (T2DM), and gestational DM (GDM). perturbed insulin biosynthesis. 15,16 It differs from T1DM
The terms “insulin-dependent” (describing T1DM, which and T2DM but is frequently misdiagnosed as one of these
requires external insulin to manage) and “non-insulin- types. MODY is caused by a single gene mutation. Its
dependent” (describing T2DM, which may be managed diagnostic criteria include onset between adolescence and
without insulin but can develop into insulin dependence) early adulthood (below 25 years), a familial background
are used to classify the pathophysiological conditions of of autosomal dominant diabetes across a minimum
diabetes. 8 of two generations, and β-cell dysfunction with no
2.1. T1DM autoantibodies. 15-17 Assessment methods introduced in
the 1990s identified mutations associated with MODY,
T1DM is common in children and young adults. It occurs including HNF1B, HNF1A, GCK, and HNF4A. In MODY,
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due to auto-immune destruction of insulin-producing disruption in insulin production results in hyperglycemia,
β-cells in the pancreas, leading to insulin deficiency which may damage blood vessels, eyes, nerves, and
resulting from the destruction of β-cells in the pancreas. kidneys. 16
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T1DM is sometimes referred to as insulin-dependent
diabetes because the body is unable to produce sufficient 2.5. Neonatal diabetes (NDM)
insulin. T1DM is less common than T2DM, accounting NDM, also termed congenital diabetes, is a rare cause of
for approximately 10% of all diabetes cases. Patients with hyperglycemia caused by mutations in proteins essential
T1DM require daily insulin injections to survive, follow a for the normal functioning of pancreatic β-cells. NDM
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specialized diet, and regularly monitor their blood glucose typically occurs before the age of 6 months, although it
levels. can rarely be present between 6 months and 1 year. 18,19
NDM arises through two primary mechanisms: the
2.2. T2DM
abnormal functionality of existing pancreatic β-cells
T2DM, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is the most or anomalies in the pancreas affecting the survival of
common form of diabetes, usually affecting middle-aged insulin-secreting cells. The major genetic causes of NDM

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2024) 2 doi: 10.36922/itps.1885