An epidemic of diabetes threatens the health of a large number of individuals worldwide. A pre-diabetes condition does not necessarily develop into diabetes if controlled well. Progression to diabetes can be prevented by lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapeutic modes.

Warning: Obesity a major predisposing factor for diabetes

• One fifth of world's population will be obese by 2025, experts warn.
• New analysis of BMI trends found that from 1975 to 2014, the number of adults in the world classified as obese rose from 105 million to 641 million.
• The average person had become 1.5kg (3.3 pounds) heavier with each passing decade.
• If this trend continues, scientists predict 18% of men and 21% of women worldwide will be obese by the year 2025.

The review, published in The Lancet medical journal, also suggests more than 6% of men and 9% of women will be "severely obese" and putting their health at risk by 2025.

Diabetic Prevalence

The epidemic of pre-diabetes is likely to compound the existing diabetes crisis as many individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) will develop type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the future. It is estimated that approximately 316 million people worldwide are with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and this is predicted to rise to 471 million by 2035.

According to the estimates of International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2013, India alone has 65.1 million people living with diabetes; this places India second to China.

Need

Type 2 diabetes is a global health challenge and the WHO has recommended research and use of complementary medicines for the management of this disease. Type 2 diabetes was previously considered as maturity-onset diabetes but, due to increasing rate of OBESITY, there is an increasing risk of developing this disease in childhood.

Goal

The goal of treatment is to maintain normal levels of blood glucose and prevent the development of complications.

Options available:

Dietary supplements - modulates glucose homeostasis and potentially improves lipid parameters, a desirable feature.

Numerous allopathic molecules available but none at par to manage condition safely in long term.

Plants provide an excellent source of drugs and a large proportion of currently-available drugs have been either derived directly or indirectly from plant sources. Herbs are reported to possess anti-diabetic activity.

An effective strategy to restrict global impacts of T2DM is by limiting the number of pre-diabetics.

Trigonella foenum graecum (Methi)

Obesity is one of the major risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Supplementing fenugreek seed extract helpful in reducing the body and adipose tissue weight. The probable mechanism of fenugreek decreasing the total body and adipose tissue weight may be that

1) Fenugreek flushes out the carbohydrates from the body before they enter the blood stream resulting in weight loss

2) Fenugreek seeds contain a high proportion (40%) of soluble fibre. This fibre forms a gelatinous structure (similar to gaur gum) which may have effects on slowing the digestion and absorption of food (carbohydrates & fat) from the intestine and create a sense of fullness in the abdomen, thus suppresses appetite and promotes weight loss.

In conclusion this plant is effective in managing blood lipids and sugar level and antioxidant activity of fenugreek providing protection to organs and inhibition of entrance diseases to body, too decrease body fats and is effective on obesity.

Pre-diabetic/ borderline diabetic advised to do lifestyle modification along with an herbal, safe and effective formulation BGR-34, a very promising formulation to control glycaemic parameters in pre-diabetic/ borderline diabetics in addition it improves quality life of patients due to optimize composition of vital herbs having scientifically proven and clinically tested anti-diabetic effects.