Patients are switching to herbal medicines for diabetes

The number of people with diabetes in India is increasing due to lifestyle changes and is second only to China, confirms data. According to the WHO, the chronic ailment affects approximately 42 crore people worldwide with China topping the list with 11.43 crore people suffering from diabetes followed by India at 7.29 crore in 2017. Due to proven better results, a recent survey confirmed that most of the patients in India are now moving towards more economical and safer herbal medicine to tackle diabetes, particularly Type-2 Diabetes in which the body does not produce enough insulin or respond properly to it.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the prevalence of diabetes is predicted to double globally from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030 with a maximum increase in India. It is predicted that by 2030 diabetes mellitus may afflict up to 79.4 million individuals in India i.e. nearly nine percent of India's population is likely to be affected from diabetes that takes a toll on vital organs and damages tissues.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), developed Ayurvedic medicine BGR-34, remains the most cost-effective and sought-after medicine for diabetes among the patients. The government has also now developed the Madhumeha Assessment Tool (MAT) based on Ayurvedic philosophy for self-assessment to help diabetics tackle their ailment with the help of herbal drugs like BGR34.

"The CSIR through its constituent laboratories CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP) and CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) has developed a formulation BGR34, to be used by patients of newly diagnosed diabetes as a measure for management of the disease,"said Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy).

The drug which is being sold by Delhi-based AIMIL Pharmaceutical has been found to be useful for diabetes management, it is also effective in cutting down heart attacks by 50 per cent in diabetic patients, as per a study published in an international publication, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

"In India, herbs like daruharidra, giloy, gudmar, bitter gourds have been commonly used as an anti-diabetic and antihyperglycemic agent as these not only target the reason of the disease but also improve the immunity. One such anti-diabetic herbal drug in India is BGR-34, a preparation herb that heals in totality: Reducing the painful insulin injections, avoiding impact on vital organs and provide anti-oxidants. It is also known to prevent diabetic complication. The herbal drug BGR34 is an add-on or adjuvant to existing diabetes treatment helping to maintain normal blood glucose levels, in addition to improving the immune system, releasing antioxidants and checking free radicals," explained Sanchit Sharma, AIMIL Pharmaceuticals.