Overview of diabetes and its curative approach using medicinal plants: A narrative review

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a long term, diverse metabolic illness with a complex pathophysiology. Hyperglycemia, which stems from anomalies in either insulin secretion or insulin action or both, is its defining feature. Metabolic dysfunctions involving proteins, carbohydrates, and fats originate from hyperglycemia, which can express itself in a variety of ways. The main cause of diabetes related morbidity and mortality is long term hyperglycemia, which frequently results in a variety of microvascular and macro vascular diabetic complications. The main biomarker for determining diabetes diagnosis is hyperglycemia. The increase in prevalence rate, high expense of treatment, common side effects of oral antidiabetic medications is a global health challenge. Therefore, medicinal plants could be a viable ways to maximize its utilization in both food and medicine for management of diabetes and its complications. This review discussed the classification of diabetes, its pathophysiology, approved drugs and several medicinal plants that are used to manage diabetes.