Natural Help for Diabetes

CAN MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF CURE YOUR DIABETES?

In Asia and Africa, the Moringa leaf is hailed as a cure-all. Although it is most commonly used to treat malnutrition in developing countries, some doctors allege that the Moringa leaf can help over 300 diseases, including diabetes.

AN OVERVIEW OF MORINGA OLEIFERA RESEARCH TO TREAT DIABETES

Studies do not claim that Moringa supplements can cure diabetes or any other medical condition. Research has confirmed that the nutritional profile of the plant is beneficial for a variety of human bodily systems and functions, but it is used as a supplement rather than a treatment.

There are a few things you need to understand about scientific studies researching the use of Moringa supplements to treat diabetes or any other medical condition:

Each study uses a different part of the plant with different processing requirements. For instance, some studies use Moringa seeds while others use a powdered form of the leaves.Each study specifies a specific dose of the supplement to be administered on a routine schedule. Therefore, the results delivered are based on consuming a specific dose at specific intervals over a given period of time.Some studies are on rats, but more human studies are starting to surface. It is clear that the research on humans will continue in the years to come. Where we are today is just the beginning for discovering the full benefits of Moringa supplements.

In May 2007, the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition released the results of a controlled study analyzing the effects of Moringa on blood glucose tolerance in rats.

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants constitute an important source of potential therapeutic agents for diabetes. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Moringa oleifera Lam, Moringacea, on glucose tolerance in Wistar rats and Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, modeled type 2 diabetes. Major polyphenols in MO powder were quercetin glucosides, rutin, kaempferol glycosides and chlorogenic acids by HPLC analysis. As the results of glucose tolerance test, Moringa oleifera significantly decreased the blood glucose at 20, 30, 45and 60 min for GK rats and at 10, 30 and 45 min for Wistar rats (p<0.05) compared to the both controls after glucose administration. The area under the curve of changes in the blood glucose was significantly higher in the GK control group than in the GK plus Moringa oleifera group (p<0.05) in the periods 30–60 min and 60–120 min. Furthermore, Moringa oleifera significantly decreased stomach emptying in GK rats (p<0.05). The results indicated that Moringa oleifera has an ameliorating effect for glucose intolerance, and the effect might be mediated by quercetin-3-glucoside and fiber contents in Moringa oleifera leaf powder. The action of Moringa oleifera was greater in GK rats than in Wistar rats.

In February 2011, the International Journal of Health & Nutrition released information from a study that allowed human patients to take a Moringa leaf supplement for a period of three months. These patients were monitored for blood glucose level changes after each month of supplementation. The results of the study showed that the patients did lower their blood glucose levels each month of supplementation, with the most significant drop in levels occurring in the third month of supplementation.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to formulate dehydrated green leafy tablets using drum stick leaves followed by supplementation study and to find out the anti diabetic property on the selected diabetic patients. The results showed that post prandial blood glucose of experimental group initially was 210 mg/dl and it reduced to 191, 174 and 150 mg/dl respectively after the first, second and third month of supplementation. In control group post prandial blood glucose level was reduced to 169, 167, 163 mg/dl respectively, after first, second and third month of study from the initial value of 179 mg/dl. Glycated hemoglobin in experimental group was initially 7.81 and decreased to 7.4 per cent after the supplementation period; but in the control group it decreased to 7.36 from the initial value of 7.38 per cent. The results indicated that moringa leaves are suitable source of green leafy vegetable to reduce the diabetic complications in diabetic patients.

ABOUT DIABETES

Diabetes is a disease that is characterized by problems involving the hormone insulin. In healthy people, the pancreas releases insulin; insulin then works to help the body use and store the fat and sugar that is derived from the food that people eat. With diabetes, insulin can be compromised in a couple of different ways. In some cases, the pancreas doesn't produce any insulin at all. Other times, the body does not react in the right way to insulin - this is known as "insulin resistance." Finally, diabetes is sometimes characterized by a pancreas that produces an insufficient volume of insulin.

THE TWO TYPES OF DIABETES

It's important to understand that diabetes is a disease that has no cure. Once a person develops diabetes, they will suffer from the condition for the rest of their life. Although diabetes may be triggered by a variety of different phenomena involving the pancreas and insulin production - or lack thereof - it can also be divided into two distinct types.

Type 1 Diabetes - Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can happen at any age. Insulin-producing cells - known as beta cells - in the pancreas are completely destroyed by the body's immune system. In turn, the pancreas can no longer produce any insulin and insulin injections must be administered. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives.

Type 2 Diabetes - With type 2 diabetes, If you have type 2 diabetes your body does not use insulin properly. A person's pancreas still produces insulin; the problem is that it either doesn't create enough insulin, or the person's body is resistant to the insulin that is produced. This is called insulin resistance. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, over time it isn't able to keep up and can't make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels. Type 2 diabetes commonly occurs in obese and overweight individuals - usually over the age of 40 - and is sometimes called "adult onset diabetes."

MANAGING DIABETES

There is no cure for diabetes. However, there are several ways to manage the condition in order to keep insulin at the proper level. There are several different techniques and strategies for managing diabetes.