Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder wherein the body's ability to transport glucose to the cells is impaired. This occurs due to insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production. Since glucose builds up in the bloodstream, it remains inaccessible to the cells that need it to produce energy. If not managed correctly, Type 2 diabetes can cause serious complications like cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, and deteriorating vision.
Prescribed medications for diabetic patients are associated with unwanted side effects like weight gain, diarrhea, kidney and liver damage, and hypoglycemia. Aside from having side effects, antidiabetic medications are also not effective for everyone who takes them. This means that there are some people who are wasting their money on antidiabetic medications that are doing nothing but harm them.
Wild cosmos is a widely used medicinal herb in tropical countries. It is commonly utilized for its antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have shown that this plant is rich in bioactive compounds like ascorbic acid, quercetin, proanthocyanidin, chlorogenic acid, and catechin. The presence of these phytochemicals can be attributed for the different medicinal properties of the plant. Although there have been previous studies on the antidiabetic potential of wild cosmos, none of them were conducted on type 2 diabetes patients.
In this study, which was published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the researchers looked at the therapeutic effects of wild cosmos extracts on patients with Type 2 diabetes. This was done through a randomized clinical trial and a subsequent metabolomic analysis. Metabolomics is a method of determining changes in metabolites present in a patient. This is important to note for diabetes patients since, as previously mentioned, Type 2 diabetes is a disease that affects metabolism.
A person's metabolic profile is influenced by external factors. So for this experiment, the researchers considered different parameters like dietary intake and physical activity, in addition to the biochemical assessment. Aside from these, the researchers also evaluated the safety of the extracts.
Metabolomic analysis of the participants showed that wild cosmos can alleviate Type 2 diabetes. In addition to this, the researchers also observed that the extracts did not have any adverse side effects on the participants. This proves that wild cosmos has potential use as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes, which is great news for everyone who has the disease or is at risk of getting it. (Related: 40% of Americans now expected to develop type 2 diabetes during lifetime.)
Type 2 diabetes risk factors
For the people that do not have diabetes, it is important to know the different factors that can increase their risk of getting it so that they can change their lifestyle accordingly. Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include the following:
- Obesity – Obesity is the leading risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, which is very worrisome since more than 60 million people in the U.S. are suffering from obesity. High amounts of fatty tissues present in the body lead to insulin resistance. When left untreated, this condition could progress to Type 2 diabetes.
- Fat storage - In addition to obesity, the location where fats are stored can also increase Type 2 diabetes risk. If the fats are stored in the abdomen, the risk is higher compared to if they are stored in the hips or thighs.
- Sedentary lifestyle – People who are inactive tend to have a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes since exercise plays a role in diabetes prevention. Aside from helping burn fats to achieve a healthy weight, physical activity also improves insulin sensitivity since the muscles used when exercising have a lot of insulin receptors.
Learn more about the potential use of wild cosmos in treating diabetes by visiting DiabetesCure.news today.
Sources include:
BMCComplementAlternMed.BioMedCentral.com
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