Diabetes is a chronic condition of impaired glucose cycle that alters the
whole metabolism leading to high blood glucose level. Diabetes occurs when the
pancreatic beta cells are either unable to produce enough insulin, or the body cells were
unable to use available insulin effectively. Insulin, a storage hormone produced in the
pancreatic beta cells, helps to absorb glucose for the production of energy during
cellular respiration. Thus, failure of absorbing glucose by body cells results in the
accumulation of glucose in the blood, which is termed as hyperglycemia. Excess blood
glucose causes serious damage to the major organ systems, leading to the heart disease,
kidney failure (nephropathy), blindness (retinopathy), loss of sensation in the feet and
hands and even an early death. Thus, diabetes is a chronic condition where the body's
ability to convert food into energy is impaired. Prevalence of diabetes along with
dyslipidaemia is increasing at an explosive rate throughout the globe. Though the exact
cause is unknown, many factors are believed to play roles in this pathogenesis. Genetic
predispositions, faulty dietary patterns, and sedentary life-styles are the key factors for
the increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes. This progressive disease develops through
many years, and pre-diabetic condition is known to be reversible. Though antidiabetic
drugs are the first line of defence to control blood glucose level, conventional therapy is
unable to cure it, nor can prevent the long term damage of the vital systems, but needs
to be used lifelong. On the other hand, the benefit of nutritional medicine and dietary
supplementation in diabetes is less explored scientifically. Therefore, the safer
alternatives to prevent, or minimize the long term damage and control of diabetes need a
combination of healthy eating, regular physical activity, monitoring of blood glucose
level, dietary control and nutritional medicine. This review will cover not only the
different aspects of diabetes, but also the role of complementary personalized therapy
using nutrition and nutritional medicine in its management, highlighting a proper blend
of conventional therapy with nutraceuticals, for effective diabetes management.
Keywords: Diabetes, pathophysiology, cellular mechanism, dyslipidaemia.
