DIABETES MELLITUS
Diabetes
mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by increased
level of blood sugar, and is due to defect in insulin secretion or insulin
action or both.
Classification of DM
TYPE
1- IDDM- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
TYPE
2 –NIDDM-non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
AETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS OF DIABETES
In
both types of diabetes, environmental factors interact with the genetic susceptibility
to determine which people develop the clinical syndrome, and the timing of its onset.
However, the underlying genes, participating in environmental factors and
pathophysiology differ substantially between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1
diabetes was previously termed ‘insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus'(IDDM) and dependent
diabetes mellitus’ (IDDM) and is invariably associated with profound insulin
deficiency requiring replacement therapy. Type 2 diabetes was previously termed
‘non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus'(NIDDM mellitus’(NIDDM) because
patients retain the capacity to secrete some insulin, but exhibit impaired
sensitivity to insulin (insulin resistance) and can usually be treated without
insulin replacement therapy. However, up to 20% of patients with type 2
diabetes will ultimately develop profound insulin deficiency requiring
replacement therapy so that IDDM and NIDDM were misnomers.
TYPE 1 DIABETES
In
type 1 DM the body fails to produce the sufficient amount of insulin. It is
usually seen in children and young adults.
Causes
Genetic
factors
Autoimmunity
Environmental
factors like-
a-Viruses-congenital
rubella, mumps, etc.
b-Chemicals
like Nitrosourea, Rodenticide, etc. are
associated with increased risk.
c-Stress
in early life.
d-Bovine
serum albumin is one of the important constituents of the cow’s milk, and it is
said to a triggering factor for type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Type 2 DM
It
is due to defective production of insulin and also due to increased tissue resistance
to insulin.
Causes
Genetic
factors
Obesity
Increased
dietary intake
Physical
inactivity
Low
level of vitamin D, copper and chromium
Clinical
features
Increased
urine output.
Increased
thirst
Increased
appetite
Pruritis
of external genital part of female
Erectile
dysfunction or loss of libido
Blurring
of vision
Investigation
Random
blood glucose-it can be done on any day, and the level should be below 140 mg.
FBS-fasting
blood-glucose level-blood examination is done after 12 hours of fasting. Normal
level is below 110 mg.
PPBS-post
prandial blood glucose- measured after 2 hours after a meal. Normal level is
below 140 mg.
Oral
glucose tolerance test-done in patients with no symptoms of diabetes but having
family history of DM, type 2, women with diabetes during pregnancy (Gestational
diabetes) , women who gave birth over-weight
babies, and obesity with belly fat.
HbA1c-it
gives the blood-glucose level of over last 3 months.
Management of diabetes mellitus
Type
1 diabetes is incurable. Along with insulin supplementation, homeopathic
medicines can be tried to boost up the immunity of children. By this, the
patients can be kept healthy and the quality of life can be improved. Besides this,
unwanted infection can also be prevented.
Type
2 DM
The
primary aim should be lifestyle modification. For that regular exercise at
least half an hour per day for most of the days and with strict diet control.
All
kinds of fatty foods and sugars should be avoided. Plenty of fiber foods,
especially vegetables should be included in the diet.
Try
stress reducing techniques like yoga and meditations.
The
aims of homeopathic medicines are to control the blood-sugar level and prevent
complication, thereby to improve the quality of life. First approach is to try homeopathic
remedies like uranum nitricum, potentised insulin, acid phos, syzygium, etc. to
control the blood-sugar level.
The
second approach is after controlling the blood-sugar level, a constitutional/
/miasmatic remedy is selected by considering of the physical, mental peculiarities,
also giving importance to family history. By this approach, the blood sugar can
be kept within controlled level and also can prevent the complications. But one
thing should be kept in mind that DM of both types is at present incurable. The
only thing by treatment, whatever system it may be, is to keep the level of
blood glucose within the normal limits, and thereby make the person to lead a normal
‘healthy life’
GOITRE
Enlargement of the
thyroid gland is called as goitre. The enlargement may be the single lobe or
both lobe, and it may be a single nodule or multiple nodules.
Thyroid gland
situates in front of neck and has two lobes.
Thyroid gland is butterfly shaped, and it produces hormones, which have
a major role in the metabolism of the whole body.
Simple nodular goitre
Usually occur
between the age of 15 and 25 years. It occurs often during pregnancy. On examination,
the gland is soft to touch and feels tightness in the neck when swallowing.
Blood
examination of T3, T4, and TSH is normal. Usually after a period the thyroid
may reduce to normal size and in rare cases, the gland may become multinodular
after 10-20 years.
Multinodular goitre
In multinodular goitre,
is there is an increased risk of thyroid cancer.
Multinodular
goiter is usually diagnosed in patients with thyrotoxicosis, large goitre with
or without tracheal compression.
Very large goitre
may compress the windpipe or trachea, and there is a difficulty in swallowing.
Hoarseness may also occur.
Management
If the goitre is
small, no treatment is needed, but annual checkup is necessary. If large one
and symptomatic, that is if it causes symptoms like difficulty in swallowing,
and compression of trachea surgery is needed.
Treatment
Usually, simple
nodular goitre needs no treatment if it is small. But sometimes it may show a
tendency to increase in size. In such cases, homeopathic remedies can be tried.
Homeopathic remedies are usually very effective in simple nodular goitre.
Homeopathic medicines like Conium mac, Spongia, Iodum, etc. can be tried. There
is a rule for prescribing Iodum as described in materia medica.
Multinodular
goitre needs regular follow up. Medicines like Conium, Hydrastis, Fucus, etc.
are usually indicated. In short, homeopathy is found very effective in the
treatment not only to reduce the size, but also it prevents from progressing to
cancer of thyroid.
HbA1c
HbA1c is the term related to diabetes mellitus. It is also known as glycated hemoglobin.
RBC-Red Blood Corpuscles carries blood throughout the
body. These red blood cells contain hemoglobin. When blood sugar in the body
goes in an uncontrolled level, the sugar (glucose) combines with hemoglobin and
becomes glycated.
So the level indicated how far your blood glucose is
controlled for the last 2 to 3 months.
The normal level is below 6%
The level between 6 to 6.4 % means pre diabetes.
And the level above 6.5% or above is confirmed
diabetes.
When the level of the normal value goes up, it
indicates that the risk of complication is also high.
The complications may be-
Diabetic nephropathy,
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic neuropathy
Women with diabetes planning for pregnancy or even
pregnant women should keep the HbA1c level below 6%. And it is advisable to
monitor HbA1c level monthly. It prevents the risk of congenital abnormalities
in baby.
HYPOTHYROIDISM
Hypothyroidism
is a clinical condition that results from the decreased production of thyroid
hormones. Females are more commonly affected.
Causes
of hypothyroidism
Idiopathic-here
the exact cause is not identified.
Surgical
removal of the thyroid gland
Iodine
deficiency
Hashimoto's
thyroiditis
Cancer
of the pituitary gland
Hypothyroidism
by birth-congenital hypothyroidism
Certain
drugs like Lithium, Amiodarone etc.
Clinical features
A
variety of signs and symptom are produced by hypothyroidism.
General
symptoms like-
Ò Fatigue
Ò Weight
gain
Ò Goitre
Ò Increased
level of cholesterol
Ò Cold
intolerance
Skin
symptoms like-
Ò Dry
and rough skin
Ò Hair
falling
Ò Facial
puffiness
Ò Baggy
eye lids
Ò Vitiligo
(whitish discoloration of skin)
Hear
symptoms like-
Ò Decreased
heart beat (bradycardia)
Ò Angina
Ò Cardiac failure
Psychiatric
symptoms like-
Ò Depression
Neuromuscular
symptoms like-
Ò Generalized
body aches and pain
Ò Carpal
tunnel syndrome
Ò Muscle
pain and stiffness
Ò Hoarseness
of voice
Gastrointestinal
symptoms like-
Ò Constipation
Blood-related
changes like-
Ò Anaemia
–iron deficiency anaemia
Reproductive
symptoms like-
Ò Infertility
Ò Impotency
Ò Increased
flow of menses
Ò And
developmental delay like-
Ò Growth
retardation
Ò Delayed
puberty
Ò Mental
retardation
Investigations
1-TFT-thyroid
function test
The
result may be-
a-elevated
TSH and normal T4 level-subclinical hypothyroidism
b-raised
TSH and decreased level of T4 and free T4-primary hypothyroidism.
c-TSH
within normal or below normal range and reduced level of free and total level- secondary
hypothyroidism.
2-Increased
level of serum cholesterol
3-ECG-
bradycardia
4-Thyroid
antibodies
Treatment
Homeopathy
has very effective medicine not only to control but also for the complete cure
of hypothyroidism. Once it is cured the medication can be stopped permanently.
Homeopathic medicines are completely free side effects and patient can use it
very safely.
Like
other systems of medicines, there is no specific medicine for hypothyroidism.
Since the hormones affect the metabolic functions within the body, the signs
and symptoms vary from individual to individual. So by considering the symptoms
and signs that are peculiar to the patient in treatment, and by eliminating the
common symptoms in the disease a medicine is selected, which will definitely
correct the metabolism there by the complete cure of the disease.
Homeopathic
medicines have to be taken for a few months to the complete recovery of hypothyroidism,
Usual
remedies are Thyroidinum, Iodum, Calc carb, Spongia, etc.
To
know about the treatment log on to www.onlinehomeocure.com
THYROTOXICOSIS
Thyrotoxicosis causes a group of symptoms due
to hyper metabolisms and hypersensitivity. And this entire syndrome occurs due
to the excessive amount of thyroid hormones.
Causes of thyrotoxicosis
Multinodular goitre
Graves’s disease
Drug induced
Sub acute thyroiditis
Symptoms of thyrotoxicosis
Ò Lose of weight in spite of normal or
increased appetite.
Ò Fatigue
Ò Heat intolerance
Ò Palpitation
Ò Tremor
Ò Irritability
Ò Vitiligo
Graves’ disease
Graves’ disease is the most common
manifestation of thyrotoxicosis.
Graves’ disease is more common in women of
30-50 years. And it is unusual before puberty.
Clinical features of Graves’ disease
Ò Weight loss with increased appetite
Ò Fatigue and weakness
Ò Impotency
Ò Gynecomastia
Homeopathic treatment
Since thyrotoxicosis is due to hormonal
changes and also there is multisystem involvement treatment should be based on the
miasmatic level. Homeopathic medicines can be tried as such or can be continued
along with allopathic medicines.
Medicines-Natrum mur, Calc carb, Iodum, Thyroidinum,
etc.