Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of the body’s means of utilizing glucose. Insulin which serves as a key for the glucose to enter the cells for energy’s utilization is either impaired or produced in insufficient amount. There are two type of diabetes, the type 1 diabetes in which pancreas which is our body’s source of insulin cannot produce insulin. Type 2 on the other hand refers to inadequacy of the pancreas to produce sufficient and functional insulin. Excess and unutilized glucose builds up in the blood stream which is why it is termed as high serum glucose level.

Unlike other diseases, diabetes is not fatal per se. The danger with diabetes is its complication which is quite common. It is just like smoking where the damage is chronic and once it hit you, your options of fighting back will be dim. Blindness, cardiovascular disorder, nephropathy, neuropathy, erectile dysfunction are some of its major complication. Treatment for diabetes is still unheard of. Current management involves good diet, adequate exercise and insulin for type 1 while oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) for type 2.

Ganoderma lucidum is regarded for its hypoglycemic action (blood sugar lowering) which is due to its active component G. lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS). This water extract from the fruiting body can significantly decrease the blood sugar in patient with diabetes. Gl-PS mechanism of action is it helps the body produce more insulin thereby increasing the chances of glucose delivery to the cell and in turn decrease the body’s blood sugar. Liver and peripheral glucose utilization is another important action of Gl-PS as well as it increase glucose metabolism to prevent accumulation of the sugar in the blood. The compound also protects the pancreatic islet B cells which maintains the normal function of insulin secretion.

One promising trend in the management of diabetes is by correcting the immune abnormality of diabetic patients. Diabetes mellitus is an auto-immune disease and it usually resulted from the inflammation and/or destruction of pancreatic islet cells brought about by the induction of immune-pathological response as direct or indirect product of viral infection or toxic chemicals. One of Ganoderma’s major actions is immune regulating activity, through this mechanism; it might be able to prevent the onset of diabetes mellitus. Additionally, Ganoderma’s immune system improvement effect could further prevent bacterial and viral invasion in diabetic patients’ system which is one of their deadly complications.

To learn more about Ganoderma in the Philippines and its therapeutic effects, please read Ganoderma lucidum therapeutic effects > Hepatitis