Take Control Before Glucose Takes Over

By Alpro Pharmacy

October 25, 2024

Key Points:

Global diabetes cases are set to reach 643 million by 2030, with Malaysia seeing a 20% annual increase in Type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes, affecting 470 million by 2030, can be reversed with lifestyle changes to prevent Type 2 diabetes.
Supplements like bitter melon and cinnamon may help manage prediabetes but should complement diet and exercise.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, over 537 million people worldwide were living with diabetes mellitus in 2021. The appalling number is reckoned to rise to 643 million by 2030. Even in Malaysia, the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus increased by 20% every year, affecting more and more populations. Considering the wide availability of fastidious processed food and poor lifestyle habits, it is not surprising that the estimated trend is becoming realistic. Due to its impact on individual health, healthcare systems, and economies globally, diabetes mellitus is recognised as one of the pressing public health challenges of the 21st century.

Nevertheless, there is a group of populations often being overlooked. They are prediabetic populations, whereby their plasma glucose levels are elevated but yet to be high enough to be classified as diabetes mellitus. By 2030, it is projected that over 470 million people will have prediabetes. The good news is — pre-diabetes is reversible.

Table 1. Diagnostic levels for prediabetes.

Many individuals with prediabetes will eventually progress to type 2 diabetes mellitus if no action is taken. However, this transition can be prevented through lifestyle changes such as adopting a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and weight management. These steps have been proven to reverse or delay the progression of prediabetes.

Alongside these lifestyle changes, dietary supplements have emerged as a complementary tool in prediabetes management. While they cannot replace the benefits of diet and exercise, certain complementary therapies have been shown to support healthy blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity. Let’s dive in and learn more about it!

Table 2. Complementary therapy for prediabetes.

In a nutshell, the above complementary therapies have clinical potential for supporting blood glucose management in prediabetic populations. However, their use should be personalised, monitored for interactions, and always paired with patient education on the limits and expectations of their roles in prediabetes management. By acting early during the prediabetes phase and leveraging complementary therapies that can enhance the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, prediabetes can be curbed before full-blown diabetes mellitus develops.

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Citations

International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes around the World in 2021 [Internet]. IDF Diabetes Atlas. 2022. Available from: https://diabetesatlas.org/

Hossain MJ, Al‐Mamun M, Islam MR. Diabetes mellitus, the fastest growing global public health concern: Early detection should be focused. Health Science Reports. 2024 Mar;7(3).

Barati S, Sadeghipour P, Ghaemmaghami Z, Mohebbi B, Baay M, Alemzadeh-Ansari MJ, et al. Warning signals of elevated prediabetes prevalence in the modern Iranian urban population. Primary Care Diabetes. 2021 Jun;15(3):472-9.

Ministry of Health Malaysia. Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (6th Edition). 2020. https://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/CPG/Endocrine/CPG_T2DM_6th_Edition_2020_13042021.pdf

Kim B, Lee HS, Kim H, Lee H, Lee I, Ock S, et al. Momordica charantia (bitter melon) efficacy and safety on glucose metabolism in Korean prediabetes participants: a 12-week, randomized clinical study. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2023 Apr;32(5):697-704.

Ltd HP. How To Take Turmeric For Diabetes? [Internet]. HealthMatch. 2022. Available from: https://healthmatch.io/diabetes/how-to-take-turmeric-for-diabetes#can-turmeric-treat-and-prevent-diabetes

Zelicha H, Yang J, Henning SM, Huang J, Lee R, Thames G, et al. Effect of cinnamon spice on continuously monitored glycemic response in adults with prediabetes: a 4-week randomized controlled crossover trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2024 Mar;119(3):649-57.

Marton LT, Pescinini-e-Salzedas LM, Camargo MEC, Barbalho SM, Haber JFdS, Sinatora RV, et al. The Effects of Curcumin on Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review. Front Endocrinol. 2021 May 3;12.

Veronese N, Dominguez LJ, Pizzol D, Demurtas J, Smith L, Barbagallo M. Oral Magnesium Supplementation for Treating Glucose Metabolism Parameters in People with or at Risk of Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2021 Nov 15;13(11):4074.

Schwingshackl L, Lampousi A, Portillo MP, Romaguera D, Hoffmann G, Boeing H. Olive oil in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies and intervention trials. Nutr & Diabetes. 2017 Apr 10;7(4):e262.