Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Research in the past two decades has shown that Fenugrec seeds help to lower blood glucose in patients with diabetes. Its role as an antidiabetic, by reducing fasting blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance in human subjects was reported Curcuminoids have been shown to improve insulin resistance, decrease glucose and insulin levels, increase adiponectin release, and reduce the levels of leptin, resistin, interleukin (IL)-6 IL-1b, and tumor necrosis factor-a in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Case Report: A 48 years old patient that have background type 2 of diabete for 19 years and hypertension for 4 years. She is taking fenugrec and curcuma for 3 months, making a periodic hypoglycemia of variable hours estimated 0.30 g/l felt by tremor and sweat, yielding by dates or honey by itself. It should be noted that these hypoglycemia are noticed one week after taking the fenugrec and curcuma and combination and the patient does not report of meal skipping or intense physical activity which may be the cause of the hypoglycemia. Examination revelated normal vital parameters slate stain or melanoderma. Hormonal profile revealed cortisolemie=16ug/dl. We linked this hypoglycemia to taking the fenugrec and curcuma combination, so the decision was to stop taking these plants and monitor the patient glycemic cycle. The glycemic cycle brought back one week after his hospitalization did not show hypoglycemia.

Discussion: Scientists have demonstrated that the amino acid 4 OH Ile in fenugreek seeds increases glucose induced insulin release in vitro in human and rat pancreatic islet cells, while others showed that fenugreek seed extract phosphorylates a number of proteins, including the insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate 1 and p85 subunit of PI3 K, in both 3T3 L1 adipocytes and human hepatoma cells, HepG2. The dose of fenugreek seeds given also affect the blood sugar levels and higher dosages do show more hypoglycemic effect as shown in the previous trials. The dose range was wide ranging from 2 to 25 g/day. The studies showed that the use of Curcuma longa or curcumin (in different formulations) showed significant reduction of lipid peroxidation, fasting blood glucose levels, Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-c, C-Reactive Protein, systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusion: Curcumin and funugrec are a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic agent representing a safe and low-cost alternative for this condition’s therapeutic approach, although it is still necessary to know its effective dose to avoid hypoglycemia.