The document discusses indigenous foods that may help manage diabetes. It notes that diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to lack of insulin or cellular resistance to insulin. It then reviews research on several indigenous foods and their potential effects on diabetes, including fenugreek, jamun, amla, bitter gourd, cinnamon, basil leaves, mango leaves, flax seeds, garlic, neem leaves, and curry leaves. Many of these foods contain compounds that can stimulate insulin production, enhance insulin sensitivity, or reduce blood sugar absorption. However, the conclusion states that while indigenous foods may have anti-diabetic properties, they are best used as a supportive therapy and that further research is needed on their

1. INDIGENOUS FOODS
AND DIABETES
PRESENTED BY
K.S.MITHILA

2. DIABETES
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic
disorder which is characterized by
hyperglycemia due to an absolute or
relative lack of insulin or due to a
cellular resistance to insulin.
BURDEN OF
DIABETES
GLOBAL INDIA
2010 285 million 51 million
2030 438 million 87 million
Source: Diabetes Care,2009

3. INDIGENOUS FOODS- IN BRIEF
 Indigenous means native to a
particular region or environment.
 ‘Indigenous’ is derived from the
Latin word
‘indigenus’- born in a country.
‘indigena’ – sprung from the
land.
‘indu’-within; gignere- to beget.
Source: The American Heritage®
Science Dictionary
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

4. RESEARCHES ON INDIGENOUS
FOODS AND DIABETES
Using Traditional Foods and
Sustainable Ecological
Approaches for Health
Promotion has become very
common now and there have
been many researches carried
out on the same.
Some of the researches on the
effect of indigenous foods on
diabetes are as follows.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

5. COMMONLY USED INDIGENOUS FOODS AGAINST
DIABETES
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

6. # FENUGREEK
 Fenugreek seeds are rich source of
fibre. (mucilaginous fibre- 20% and
total fibre- 50%)
 Presence of trigonelline- an
alkaloid and 4-hydroxyisoleucine
(amino acid) which are present in
fenugreek are known to reduce blood
sugar.
 Fenugreek is taken by diabetics in the
form of seeds, leaves and sprouts.
 However, some researches say that
fenugreek preparations can be used
only as supportive therapy.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

7. # JAMUN
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes
• Jamun is a very rich source of Vitamin
C, calcium, phosphorus and iron.
• This has been traditionally used by
Unani, Ayurvedic and other Asian
medicine systems for controlling
diabetes.
• Jamun seeds, extracts of the bark,
leaves and the fruit as such, are
beneficial for lowering blood sugar
and glycosuria.
• The main ingredient with anti-
diabetic function in jamun seeds is
the jamboline chemical.

8. JAMUN (contd)
 Many studies have shown that
jambul or jamun has such
hypoglycemic effects that can
reduce upto 30% of blood sugar.
 With the catalytic activity and
association with other inorganic or
inactive substances in the seed, it
exhibits the anti diabetic activity
says some researches.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

9. # AMLA
 Amla or the Indian gooseberry is one
of the richest sources of vitamin C.
 Many researches have established
that Emblica Officinalis or the amla is
effective in lowering fasting blood
sugar or glycated hemoglobin
(HBA1C) levels in diabetic patients
(in just half an hour).
 The polyphenol-rich fruit actually has
properties that can protect the body
from oxidative properties of high
blood sugar due to it’s strong free
radical scavenging activity.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

10. #BITTERGOURD
 Bitter gourd fruits and the whole plant is
rich in plant insulin-polypeptide-P.
Polypeptide-P is a bio-chemical which is
effective in reducing blood sugar.
 Bitter gourd contains many beneficial
compounds including bitter glycosides,
saponins, alkaloids, phenolics, oils, free
acids, polypeptides, sterols, 17-amino
acids and p-insulin repair damaged
beta cells, increase insulin levels as well
as enhance the sensitivity of insulin.
 Many researches too have established
the effectiveness of bitter melon on
blood sugar levels.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

11. #CINNAMON
 Cinnamon lowers blood sugar by
stimulating insulin activity.
 The chemical hydroxychalcone has
been identified as a potential active
ingredient in cinnamon, which is
believed to modify the sensitivity of
cells to insulin, enhancing their uptake.
 A research conducted on people with
Type 2 diabetes establishes that 1-6 g
of cinnamon per day lowers serum
glucose.
 Some researches say that cinnamon
improves fasting blood glucose, and
blood lipid levels, but no significant
effect has been observed on A1C.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

12. # BASIL LEAVES.
 Basil (tulsi) is composed of antioxidants
and essential oils that yield eugenol,
methyl eugenol and caryophyllene,
and they also yield other substances
such as ursolic acid and apigenin.
 Basil leaves helps beta cells of
pancreas function in a proper manner
whereby, enhancing the secretion of
insulin.
 Researchers have theorized that holy
basil leaves may improve pancreatic
beta cell function and thus
enhance insulin secretion.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

13. BASIL LEAVES (contd)
 Preliminary trials of basil (Ocimim
sanctum) leaves and hairy
basil (Ocimum canum) seeds have
shown that these herbs may help
people with type 2 diabetes control
their blood sugar levels.
 Holy basil has not yet been studied in
people with type 1 diabetes.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

14. # MANGO LEAVES
 While mango fruit is not meant for
diabetics, mango leaves are!
 Mango leaves contain organic
compounds tarakserol-3beta and ethyl
acetate which stimulates insulin
production.
 The aqueous extract of mango leaves
have hypoglycemic activity. It reduces
the intestinal absorption of glucose thus
helping in lowering sugar levels in
blood.
 Many researches have proven
evidences about mango leaves’ anti-
diabetic properties.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

15. # FLAX SEEDS
 Flaxseeds (Alsi) have high omega-3
fat, lignans and high fiber content.
 The studies have shown that
people who consumed flaxseed had
blood sugar levels 28 per cent lower
an hour after eating than their
counterparts who did not.
 Researches say that flaxseeds
prevent spikes in blood sugar and
keeps blood sugar levels more stable
for longer.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

16. ARTICLES ON FLAX SEEDS
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

17. #GARLIC
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes
• Studies have found that garlic helps in
controlling abnormally high blood
sugar levels in diabetics.
• Few studies however have addressed
garlic's effects on diabetic
cardiomyopathy.
• Research have shown that certain
compounds in garlic such as allicin,
allyl propyl disulfide and s-allyl cysteine
sulfoxide works in increasing the
amount of insulin in the blood by
blocking the liver’s inactivation of
insulin and thus make insulin available
to the body.

18. #NEEM LEAVES
 Neem is beneficial for diabetes due to
its anti-hyperglycemic activity.
 The compound 3-deacetyl-3-
cinnamoyl-azadirachtin present in the
neem leaves help controlling the
blood glucose level.
 These leaves enhance insulin receptor
sensitivity.
 Many research prove that neem
leaves posses anti-diabetic properties
and they delay the onset of diabetes.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

19. #CURRY LEAVES
 Curry leaves are potent anti-diabetic
agents.
 The type and amount of fiber and the bio
active compounds Murrayacinine,
Isomahanimbine/ Mahanimbicine,
Mahanimboline contained within the
leaves also play a significant role in
lowering blood sugar levels.
 A study published in The Journal of Plant
food for Nutrition, found that curry leaves
have a great impact on the blood sugar
levels of diabetics. They showed that not
only does it help lower the blood sugar
levels, but also kept in check for a few days
after the administration of curry leaves.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

20. CONCLUSION
From the results of the research articles based
on ‘Indigenous foods and Diabetes’, it is
proved that the indigenous foods do have
anti-diabetic properties but still they can be
used only as supportive therapy. However,
they play a role in delaying the onset of the
disease. This kind of study needs to be
focussed on the synergistic effect of these
compounds as well.
Indigenous Foods And Diabetes

21. Indigenous Foods And Diabetes