58y old man with chronic liver disease is rushed to ER very early morning after multiple seizures, loss of consciousness
Blood glucose was 32mg!
A diabetic since long, he was on the same oral medications since last 2y
Why did a stable diabetic go into severe hypoglycemia...
Blood glucose was 32mg!
A diabetic since long, he was on the same oral medications since last 2y
Why did a stable diabetic go into severe hypoglycemia...
...and why was his liver tests highly abnormal with jaundice and hepatitis
Bilirubin 4.8
AST 346
ALT 228
ALP 444
GGT 288
Even though abnormal liver tests are common after seizures, jaundice is unexpected, very rare
Which meant, this was more than just a hypoglycemic seizure...
Bilirubin 4.8
AST 346
ALT 228
ALP 444
GGT 288
Even though abnormal liver tests are common after seizures, jaundice is unexpected, very rare
Which meant, this was more than just a hypoglycemic seizure...
Overweight and with diabetes, he was advised low calorie diet, weight loss and blood glucose control to prevent worsening of underlying chronic liver disease/cirrhosis
In early cirrhosis, controlling or treating cause(s) of cirrhosis helps prevent disease progression...
In early cirrhosis, controlling or treating cause(s) of cirrhosis helps prevent disease progression...
...but his overweight led to poor exercise tolerance, lack of adequate activity, worsening of blood sugar status
So his Endocrinologist recently advised him to opt for insulin...
But neighbors & friends told him insulin chemical wud make his life hell, for life...CHEMOPHOBIA...
So his Endocrinologist recently advised him to opt for insulin...
But neighbors & friends told him insulin chemical wud make his life hell, for life...CHEMOPHOBIA...
...led to him wondering about natural and safer options other than insulin for his diabetes control
Which led him to visit an Ayurveda practitioner who was kind enough to INCREASE his chemophobia towards modern medical treatments and prescribed him a home made...
Which led him to visit an Ayurveda practitioner who was kind enough to INCREASE his chemophobia towards modern medical treatments and prescribed him a home made...
...herbal traditional formulation containing Gymnema sylvestre (gurmar, sugar destroyer) leaves, guava stem/leaves and Fenugreek (methi) to be taken twice a day with water.
As per Ayurvedic principles, he was also put on a VIRUDHA AHARA diet protocol which essentially meant...
As per Ayurvedic principles, he was also put on a VIRUDHA AHARA diet protocol which essentially meant...
...that a variety of nutritious food were considered "toxic" & he was asked to refrain from them or their diet combinations
But was advised to CONTINUE oral diabetes medicines as before
So a heavy reduction in diet, "supposed" safe sugar lowering herbals and continuation of...
But was advised to CONTINUE oral diabetes medicines as before
So a heavy reduction in diet, "supposed" safe sugar lowering herbals and continuation of...
....REAL sugar lowering diabetes medicines led to severe blood glucose reduction early morning and hypoglycemic seizures in this patient
In reality, no Ayurvedic herbal formulation has been clearly proven as useful in diabetes management, even though advertising is plenty..
In reality, no Ayurvedic herbal formulation has been clearly proven as useful in diabetes management, even though advertising is plenty..
...but that does not mean herbals are useless in lowering sugar levels
Some herbs have highly potent, but toxic phytochemicals that can either increase secretion of insulin, increase potency of real diabetes medicines or directly reduce glucose absorption from foods...BUT...
Some herbs have highly potent, but toxic phytochemicals that can either increase secretion of insulin, increase potency of real diabetes medicines or directly reduce glucose absorption from foods...BUT...
...Safety and effectiveness of such plant compounds are not properly studied or validated through human trials in phases 1 to 4 and are used only "on the belief" that they work
They may work, but the issue is that they can harm too
Like for example, Gymnema or Gurmar...
They may work, but the issue is that they can harm too
Like for example, Gymnema or Gurmar...
...which is found to be associated with severe liver toxicity in form of cholestatic hepatitis and also bone marrow failure, leading to even death
Gymnema contains gymnemic acids that promote distaste to sugar but doesn't actually lower sugar and no humans trials done...
Gymnema contains gymnemic acids that promote distaste to sugar but doesn't actually lower sugar and no humans trials done...
...and guava leaf/stem extracts have dose dependent liver toxicity in small animals, WITHOUT safety studies in humans
And studies in cirrhosis patients have shown that use of guava 🍃 led to worsening liver functions...
aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
And studies in cirrhosis patients have shown that use of guava 🍃 led to worsening liver functions...
aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
...this is similar to Fenugreek, were lab/cell studies show glucose lowering effect, but properly conducted, randomized trial on safety and efficacy is lacking
But emerging evidence show Fenugreek is assoc with bleeding, organ toxicity, sterility and many adverse events...
But emerging evidence show Fenugreek is assoc with bleeding, organ toxicity, sterility and many adverse events...
...and supposed safety is only based on lab data and not humans studies
Nonetheless, Fenugreek extract use also led to bleeding and hepatitis in published reports
shmabstracts.org
casereports.bmj.com
Fenugreek is SAFE in FOOD. It is not a medicine...
Nonetheless, Fenugreek extract use also led to bleeding and hepatitis in published reports
shmabstracts.org
casereports.bmj.com
Fenugreek is SAFE in FOOD. It is not a medicine...
...thus, a combination of various herbal components with highly potent bio active compounds and there actions led to almost fatal glucose reduction and associated hepatitis in this man
Herbal supplements are neither approved, not tested for safety/effectiveness in diabetes...
Herbal supplements are neither approved, not tested for safety/effectiveness in diabetes...
...and studies have shown that the use of herbal supplements in cirrhosis for various reasons such as sugar control, bloating, wellness, sleep etc
Leads to liver failure & high death rate in absence of transplantation
But these facts will not be disclosed by Ayurveds becoz...
Leads to liver failure & high death rate in absence of transplantation
But these facts will not be disclosed by Ayurveds becoz...
...maintaining chemophobia in the general and patient populations help them SELL THEIR "NATURAL & SAFE" BUSINESS to gullible people like my patient looking for an easy way out...
...no alternative medicines are properly tested for recommended use in cirrhosis or diabetes...
...no alternative medicines are properly tested for recommended use in cirrhosis or diabetes...
...our patient, aftr spending 24h on ventilator, was discharged after 4d with prescription of insulin (SAFEST IN LIVER DISEASE) & proper diet advise and is now doing very well on follow up...
He still curses the day, he tuk a bunch of 🌿 he thought would "cure his diabetes"
End
He still curses the day, he tuk a bunch of 🌿 he thought would "cure his diabetes"
End
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