Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Ways to manage a complex disease.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by an elevated level of blood glucose. The normal range is 3.3–6 mmol/L.

The notion of “elevated blood sugar” is not entirely correct. Because sugars are low-molecular carbohydrates. and those include sucrose, maltose, lactose, glucose, etc. But glucose is the main type of sugar, which uses the body for metabolic purposes, and the number of others is not significant. Therefore, the notion of “blood sugar” is acceptable and prevalent.

There are several types of diabetes mellitus

• Type I (insulin-dependent)
• Type II (non-insulin-dependent)
• Gestational (diabetes mellitus in pregnant women)

Type I diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease that affects the endocrine part of the pancreas and is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia due to insulin deficiency.

The term “autoimmune” means that an individual’s own immune system destroys the beta cells of the pancreas.

Over the past decades, diabetes mellitus, along with cardiovascular and oncological diseases, has been becoming an increasingly common pathology, and has already acquired the scale of a “non-infectious epidemic”. According to the International Diabetes Federation (2009), currently approximately 285 mln people all over the world suffer from diabetes, each year the number of patients increases by 5–7 %, and by 2030, this figure is expected to reach 438 mln. The proportion of type I diabetes mellitus in the population reaches 10–15 %.

In the US, approximately US $14 bln is spent on the treatment of patients with type I diabetes mellitus a year. But less than a third of people reach the target levels of blood glucose control.

 

What should I know about diabetes mellitus?

Insulin provides the intake of glucose into the cells, which is the main source of energy for our body. The absence of insulin does not allow it to engage in metabolic processes. There is a paradox, which was named years ago – “hunger among sufficiency”, when the blood glucose level exceeds the norm, and the cells are still “starving”. Cells signal of a critical lack of energy.

Other ways of power supply are included.  First of all, fats are involved. A huge amount of fatty acids, triglycerides, cholesterol is delivered to the blood. They do have a great energy potential, but their increased blood count is the main cause of the rapid development of atherosclerosis.

 

Difficulties in the life of a person with diabetes mellitus

Active research is in progress, the goal of which is to find a way to cure type I diabetes mellitus.  In 2014, Medtronic obtained European certification for the use of an automated insulin pump MiniMed Duo. This gadget is also called “artificial pancreas”. Scientists from Harvard University have found a way to grow insulin-producing cells from stem cells in quantities necessary for transplantation into the human pancreas. But nevertheless, these methods have not yet acquired widespread prevalence, and type I diabetes mellitus still remains an incurable disease.

The main methods of treatment remain as follows:

• Insulin therapy (which involves subcutaneous administration of artificial insulin up to 5–6 times a day).
• Observance of a strict diet.
• Moderate physical activity. 

Despite the availability of seemingly profound knowledge about diabetes mellitus, the incidence of complications remains high.

• Eye complications – diabetic retinopathy – the most common cause of blindness in people of working age.
• Kidney complications – diabetic nephropathy – one of the most common causes of chronic kidney failure. Every third patient with type I diabetes mellitus dies from terminal renal failure.
• Nervous system complications – diabetic neuropathy, which affects up to 50 % of patients with diabetes, leads to loss of sensitivity in the legs.
• Diabetic foot – a complication based on changes in the vessels and nerves, the main reason for non-traumatic amputation of the legs. Every year, approximately 1,000,000 amputations are performed all over the world for the indication.
• In people older than 40 years of age, acute disorders of cerebral circulation (stroke) occur against the background of diabetes mellitus by 1.5–2 times more often than in individuals who do not suffer from this disease.

In addition, there are acute conditions that can develop in diabetes mellitus:

1. Hyperglycaemic conditions:

   • Diabetic (hyperketonaemic) coma.
   • Hyperosmolar coma.
   • Lactoacidemic coma
2. 1. Hypoglycaemic conditions:
   • Hypoglycaemic coma

Thus, in the life of people suffering from diabetes mellitus, there are many factors that have a negative effect on the quality of life.

 

The most significant of those are:

• nutritional restrictions – probably the most vulnerable component of quality of life;
• requirements for self-monitoring and treatment, often placing a heavy burden on the patient (here we mean the time and the high psychological stress associated with the need for continuous
• the continuous need for injections;
• the everlasting threat of complications, which triggers the emergence of anxiety and depression, and in the future, subject to their development, a significant decrease in the patient’s ability to function in everyday life;
• fear of hypoglycaemia, leading to the limitations of physical activity in addition to reducing emotional well-being;
• the difficulties of communication associated with the fear of rejection by others, fears of losing a job, family problems, etc.;
• the financial burden of treatment, which lies not only on the health system but largely on the patients and their families.

Thus, existing methods of treatment cannot fully provide control over the disease.

 

Ways to manage a complex disease

SCHALI Group of Companies has joined and aimed efforts at development of the medicinal products for assistance with the existing treatment methods and prevention of complications development.

For the purpose, we have developed the medicinal products from the SCHALI^® Care ME/FE line - Endocrine Diseases.

 

They consist of biocomponents of vegetable and mineral origin. The medicinal products have the pharmacological form of rectal suppositories. This allows the active ingredients to be rapidly absorbed through the mucosa of the rectum properly supplied with blood, and be distributed in the target areas.

The effect of the drugs is aimed at small vessels (capillaries, arterioles, and venules), which are primarily affected by diabetes mellitus. They also have an anti-inflammatory, regenerating effect, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve blood flow. The vegetable and mineral components of suppositories and their ingredients contribute to the reduction of fat absorption in the intestine by suppressing the action of the pancreatic enzyme – lipase. they suppress enzymes that break down fats coming from food, which leads to excretion of fats in the unchanged state, and therefore prevents the development of atherosclerosis – the main cause of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus.

Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, an active antioxidant, protecting the cells of the body from the effects of free radicals. Tocopherol provides normal growth and muscle function, maturation of erythrocytes (affects the level of haemoglobin). Considering the whole cascade of metabolic disorders in the human body suffering from diabetes mellitus, vitamin E is absolutely essential. In addition, in contrast to his “fellow tribesmen” – vitamins A and D, it has no toxic effect even in large doses.

Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, an active antioxidant, protecting the cells of the body from the effects of free radicals. Tocopherol provides normal growth and muscle function, maturation of erythrocytes (affects the level of haemoglobin). Considering the whole cascade of metabolic disorders in the human body suffering from diabetes mellitus, vitamin E is absolutely essential. In addition, in contrast to his “fellow tribesmen” – vitamins A and D, it has no toxic effect even in large doses.

 

SCHALI^® Care ME/FE   - Endocrine Diseases products can be used both for prophylactic purposes and for complex treatment of type I diabetes mellitus.

ЭENCAPSULATED BIOCOMPLEXES are effective aids for diabetes mellitus

• SCHALI^®-D
• SCHALI^®-D1

The effect of the SCHALI^®-D encapsulated biocomplexes is aimed at regulation of digestion of the fats coming from the food, normalizing the enzymatic and oxidative processes. They have a highly effective antidiabetic and antioxidant action, support the functioning of the pancreas and effectively prevent the development of complications of diabetes mellitus.

SCHALI^®-D increase the functionality of nutrients coming with regular food, help preserve their useful properties and prevent the negative influence of food products on the human body, fighting both against visible and internal signs of ageing.

SCHALI^® - D1 encapsulated biocomplex helps to overcome insulin deficiency in the body, supporting the functioning of the liver and pancreas and normalizing blood glucose level, and can be used as a part of complex therapy and for prevention of diseases associated with insulin deficiency. The drug helps to normalize the glycaemic index.

This allows for:

• reduction of the dosage of insulin-substituting drugs;
• normalization of fasting glucose levels with the minimum risk of glycaemia;
• regulation of the motility and secretion in the gastrointestinal tract;
• normalization of metabolism in the body.

The active cyclodextrin ingredients contained in SCHALI^®-D and SCHALI^® - D1 biocomplexes limit amylolytic degradation, strongly immobilize fats contained in food, fatty acids, triglycerides, restore the maintenance of the proper blood sugar level, which contributes to its antidiabetic effect.

Curcumin (Curcuma xanthorrhiza), encapsulated in the cavity of cyclodextrins, enhances the protective function with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The lipid-lowering effect of curcumin was revealed in numerous experimental and clinical studies in recent years. It effectively reduces the level of triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol in the liver, and also increases the level of anti-atherogenic lipoproteins (LDL). Prevention of the development of chronic inflammatory processes with curcumin is associated with its suppressive effect on the synthesis of proinflammatory factors. This confirms its important role in control over chronic low-level inflammatory processes, as well as in diabetes mellitus, excessive body weight and atherosclerosis. Also, curcumin has a hypoglycaemic effect.

SCHALI^®-D1 is also recommended for healthy people who lead an active lifestyle. It helps activate vitality and improve metabolism, as well as protect the body from the adverse effects of everyday stress and the environment.

With the help of SCHALI PERSONAL PHARMA program our specialists will design an individual method of complex recovery for you.

Summing up, it is important to mention that the effect of medicinal products designed by the SCHALI Group of Companies is aimed at normalizing the level of glycaemia, preventing the development of complications and improving the overall quality of life of people with diabetes mellitus.

They help to:

• reduce the daily dose of insulin;
• reduce the number of injections;
• expand the dietary menu;
• normalize the lipid balance, thus preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

SCHALI^® Care ME/FE – Endocrine Diseases products and ENCAPSULATED BIOCOMPLEXES SCHALI^®-D and SCHALI^® - D1 are an effective and safe way to regain control over diabetes mellitus.