Dr Md Shahjalal Chowdhury
People with diabetes can use the following therapies to help manage their blood glucose levels and to prevent complications:
Lifestyle changes, such as a well-balanced diet and regular exercise
Medications, particularly insulin for individuals with type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 diabetes
The goal of diabetes treatment is to achieve and maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

Alaaz/ Unani Medication:
A. Dawa Murada for Ziabetes Sakri/ Diabetes Mellitus
People have long used plant-based medicines in the treatment of diabetes. Unani Medicine for Type I Diabetes includes: (It is always advisable to work with an Expert Unani doctor prior to taking any Unani Medicine.)
Various medicinal plants that may have a role in the management or prevention of diabetes include:
 Karela/ Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia)
Bitter gourd, also known as bitter melon, can be helpful for controlling diabetes due to its blood glucose lowering effects. It tends to influence the glucose metabolism all over your body rather than a particular organ or tissue.
It helps increase pancreatic insulin secretion and prevents insulin resistance. Thus, bitter gourd is beneficial for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, it cannot be used to entirely replace insulin treatment.
Drink some bitter gourd juice on an empty stomach each morning. First remove the seeds of two to three bitter gourds and use a juicer to extract the juice. Add some water and then drink it. Follow this treatment daily in the morning for at least two months.
Also, you can include one dish made of bitter gourd daily in your diet.
Precaution & Warning: Bitter melon can be extremely dangerous to take when pregnant.

Darchini/ Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Powdered cinnamon has the ability to lower blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin activity. It contains bioactive components that can help prevent and fight diabetes.
Certain trials have shown that it can work as an effective option to lower blood sugar levels in cases of uncontrolled type-2 diabetes.
Cinnamon, however, should not be taken in excess because we commonly use Cassia cinnamon (found in most grocery stores) which contains a compound called coumarin. It is a toxic compound that increases the risk of liver damage.
There is another variety of this herb known as Ceylon cinnamon or “true cinnamon.” It is considered safer for health but its effects on blood glucose levels have not been studied adequately.
Mix one-half to one teaspoon of cinnamon in a cup of warm water. Drink it daily.
Another option is to boil two to four cinnamon sticks in one cup of water and allow it to steep for 20 minutes. Drink this solution daily until you see improvement.
You can also add cinnamon to warm beverages, smoothies and baked goods.
 In a clinical study of 60 people with type 2 diabetes, intake of 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon per day reduced glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol levels. Other clinical studies have found similar results. As a result, experts claim that cinnamon may play an important role in regulating blood sugar in people with diabetes.

Methi/Fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum)
Fenugreek is an herb that can also be used to control diabetes, improve glucose tolerance and lower blood sugar levels due to its hypoglycaemic activity. It also stimulates the secretion of glucose-dependent insulin. Being high in fiber, it slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and sugars.
Soak two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Drink the water along with the seeds in the morning on an empty stomach. Follow this remedy without fail for a few months to bring down your glucose level.
Another option is to eat two tablespoons of powdered fenugreek seeds daily with milk.
Warning: Fenugreek may interact with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin).

Amla (Emblica officinalis)
Indian gooseberry, also known as Amla, is rich in vitamin C and Indian gooseberry juice promotes proper functioning of your pancreas.
Take two to three Amla, remove the seeds and grind it into a fine paste. Put the paste in a cloth and squeeze out the juice. Mix two tablespoon of the juice in one cup of water and drink it daily on an empty stomach.
Alternatively, mix one tablespoon of Amla juice in a cup of bitter gourd juice and drink it daily for a few months.

Jamun/ Indian Black Berry (Syzgium cumini)
Black plum or jambul, also known as jamun can help a lot in controlling blood sugar level because it contains anthocyanins, ellagic acid, hydrolysable tannins etc.
Each part of the Jambul plant such as the leaves, berry and seeds can be used by those suffering from diabetes. In fact, research has shown that the fruits and seeds of this plant have hypoglycemic effects as they help reduce blood and urine sugar levels rapidly.
The seeds, in particular, contain glycoside jamboline and alkaloid jambosine that regulate control blood sugar levels.

Aam/ Mango Leaves
The delicate and tender mango leaves can be used to treat diabetes by regulating insulin levels in the blood. They can also help improve blood lipid profiles.
Soak 10 to 15 tender mango leaves in a glass of water overnight. In the morning, filter the water and drink it on an empty stomach.
You can also dry the leaves in the shade and grind them. Eat one-half teaspoon of powdered mango leaves two times daily.

Gurmar boti/ Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre)
Preliminary human research reports that gymnema may be beneficial in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes when it is added to diabetes drugs being taken by mouth or to insulin. Gymnema may alter the ability to detect sweet tastes.

Bakain/ Neem (Azadirachta indica)
According to a 2000 study published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, Indian lilac or neem can be beneficial in controlling blood sugar or helpful in preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes. Neem leaf extract contains several compounds that can reduce insulin requirements among diabetic people without any apparent effect on blood glucose levels.
Neem tablets help lower blood glucose levels. Take neem tablets or powder to control diabetes after consulting a doctor.
Those who are at a higher risk of developing diabetes can chew 4 or 5 tender neem leaves daily or every other day on an empty stomach to prevent it.
Diabetic Patient, Fresh tender leaves of Neem are cooked with shrimps and oil; then eaten with rice. Dried leaves are soaked in water over night and decanted extract is taken orally.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)
Although both Asian (Panax ginseng) and American (Panax quinquefolium) ginseng appear to lower blood glucose levels, only American ginseng has been studied scientifically. Several clinical studies report a blood sugar-lowering effect of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) in individuals with type 2 diabetes, both on fasting blood glucose and on postprandial glucose levels.
Warning: It may interact with several medications, including blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin), among others. People with a history of hormone-sensitive cancers should only use ginseng under the guidance of their physician.

Okra
Okra, also called ladies’ finger, has constituents such as polyphenolic molecules that can help reduce blood glucose levels and control diabetes.
A 2011 study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Bio-Allied Sciences found okra seed and peel powder to have anti-diabetic and anti-hyper-lipidemic potential.
Cut off the ends of a few okras and prick them in several places using a fork. Soak the okras in a glass of water overnight. In the morning, discard the okras and drink the water on an empty stomach. Do this daily for several weeks. Check more about it here.
Also, include okra in your diet.
Warning: Avoid in people with known allergy or sensitivity to neem (Azadirachta indica) or members of the Meliaceae family.

B. Dawa Murakkava for Zayabetus Sakri (Diabetes Mellitus) (Any one or two of the following may be taken orally)
Tab. Dolabi , 01-02 tablet orally intake daily before meal.
Tab Selvin, 01-02 tablet orally intake twice daily.
 Tab. Alisa, 01-02 tablet orally intake 2-3 times daily.
Cap. Gintone, 500mg 01 capsule orally intake twice daily.
Ispaghol (Husk), Trifal Churna also helful to control blood sugar levels.

The writer can be reached at: [email protected]