Vegetables, diabetes should make their favourites

In recent decades,incidence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus {NIDDM}) has increased to epidemic
proportions in several traditional
populations. On a global scale too, its rapidly
increasing prevalence is a significant cause
for concern.
The conventional medical approach of
simply using insulin and oral drugs to
control diabetes mellitus is inadequate,
boring and lack compliance, thus, the
patient’s exposure to long term
complications remains a risk.
Some wild herbs and spices have been
shown to be most effective, relatively non-
toxic and have substantial scientific
documentation to attest to their efficacy in
diabetes management.
In many developing countries, larger parts
of the population rely heavily on traditional
medicinal plants to meet their primary
health care needs and also to manage their
diabetes mellitus. This is due to their
perceived effectiveness, minimal side
effects in clinical experience and relatively
low cost.
For instance, some indigenous vegetables
researchers documented as alternative
treatments for diabetes by diabetic patients
attending University of Nigeria Teaching
Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla were namely;
Solanum incanum (commonly called garden
egg, Igba in Yoruba and anara in Igbo),
Vernonia amygdalina (commonly referred
to as bitter leaf, ewuro in Yoruba and
onugbu in Igbo) and Gongronema latifolium
(utazi in Igbo and arokeke or ewe itaji in
Yoruba).
Given the preponderance, acceptability and
affordability of these vegetables,
researchers from the University of Nigeria
compared the therapeutic effect of these
vegetables on the blood sugar level in the
treatment of diabetes.
The study, which was an attempt to find
realistic dietary recommendations such that
diabetic patients can better their blood
sugar and possibly avoid the need for
additional diabetes medications compared
the effect of Solanum incanum with other
indigenous vegetables such as Vernonia
amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium,
also taken by diabetic patients.
The 2009 study was carried out by V.
Uchenna Okolie1, Ijeoma Ehiemere and O.
Pauline Ezenduka from the Department of
Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria,
Enugu Campus, Nigeria in collaboration with
E. Chinwe from the Department of Home
Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University
of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. This was
published in the Pakistan Journal of
Nutrition.
For the study, the vegetables (50 g each)
were processed according to the methods
used by the patients; squeeze-wash-drink
and chew-raw. They were administered to
24 participants (12 men and 12 women)
who also served as their own controls on
separate days in randomized order. Blood
glucose levels were checked at fasting and
at 30 minutes intervals for 2 hours after
taking food.
Freshly picked Solanum leaves were bought
from a local market in Enugu and Vernonia
and Gongronema plucked from a farm at
the senior staff quarters at the University.
These vegetables were de-stalked, sorted
and then washed in tap water. Fifty grams
each of these bitter leaves were processed
according to the methods used by the
diabetic patients who had been taking them
for therapeutic purposes; squeeze-wash
drink and chewing raw.
Squeeze-wash-drink involved squeezing the
vegetables with the two hands until the
juice started coming out. The vegetables
were mashed completely and sieved to get
out all the juice extracts. Chew raw involved
eating the vegetables raw as soon as they
were washed.
The results of the Fasting Blood Glucose
(FBG), Glucose Tolerance Tests (GTT),
Postprandial Blood Glucose (PPG) levels
following the administration of the
vegetables using squeeze- wash drink
method as well as the chew raw method
showed that Solanum caused reduction in
blood glucose levels.
Following administration at various time
intervals, the peak reduction of all the
vegetables occurred at 60 min, after which
they stabilized at normal values using
squeeze-wash and chew raw methods.
Solanum, Vernonia and Gongronema caused
21 per cent, 19 per cent and 18 per cent
reductions in blood sugar respectively.
The nutrient composition revealed that
Solanum was mostly moisture and fibre and
contains minimal calories and so contributes
less sugar to the blood sugar pool. The
findings of the study, they stated are in
support with those that African plants rich
in non-starch polysaccharides reduce
postprandial blood glucose and insulin
concentrations in humans.
They wrote: “The bioactive antioxidant
substances that occur naturally in stems,
roots and leaves of African plants may
possess insulin - like effect. The rich non-
soluble polysaccharide (NSP) content of
Solanum incanum is also likely to be a
reducing factor.”
Over the decades, an expanding body of
evidence from epidemiological and
laboratory studies have demonstrated that
some edible plants as a whole or their
identified ingredients with antioxidant
properties have substantial protective
effects on diabetes cardiovascular and renal
disorders and several other human
ailments.
Some chemical substances present in
indigenous vegetables may possibly
possess insulin-like effect or stimulate the
pancreatic beta cells to produce insulin
which in turn lowers the blood glucose
level.
Similar observations have been reported by
other researchers to corroborate that
administration of Solanum incanum showed
a significant dose dependent reduction of
blood glucose levels in normal rats.
It is also in consonance with a previous
study which also revealed that foods rich in
fibre contents induce lesser blood glucose
responses. Fibre does not raise blood
glucose levels, but has a benefit of adding
bulk to help make one feel full was
discovered by other researcher.
Other findings also showed evidence that a
high intake of dietary fiber is associated
with enhanced insulin sensitivity and
therefore may have a role in the prevention
and control of Type 2 diabetes. Roughage
lowers the need for insulin by slowing the
absorption of carbohydrates and
preventing surges in blood sugar, because
it is not digested or absorbed by the body