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I saw a very interesting news item today. Pumpkin to the rescue of Diabetics! A new study by Chinese experts has found out that certain compounds in pumpkin could potentially replace or at least drastically reduce the daily insulin injections.

Researchers led by Tao Xia of the East China Normal University, found that diabetic rats fed with the pumpkin extract had only 5% less plasma insulin and 8% fewer insulin-positive (beta) cells compared to normal healthy rats.

According to Xia, “Pumpkin extract is potentially a very good product for pre-diabetic persons, as well as those who have already developed diabetes”.

David Bender, sub-dean at the Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, was very excited about the findings but was insistent about the tests being carried out on humans before reaching any conclusions.

He said, “This research is very exciting… the main finding is that feeding pumpkin extract prevents the progressive destruction of pancreatic beta-cells… but it is impossible to say whether pumpkin extract would promote regeneration in humans. I think the exciting thing is that this may be a source of a medication that could be taken by mouth”.

Experts feel that the protective effect of pumpkin may be due to both antioxidants and D-chiro-inositol, a molecule that mediates insulin activity.

Boosting insulin levels has the effect of lowering blood sugar levels, which reduces levels of oxidative oxygen species that damage beta-cell membranes, preventing further damage and allowing for some regeneration. Beta cell levels in the diabetic rats are, however, unlikely ever to reach that of controls, because some of the cells will have been damaged beyond repair.

But, I feel that we can achieve diabetes control if the preventive and regenerative procedure is started early enough.

The rats used in this study represent Type 1 diabetes, but the researchers believe the pumpkin extract may also play a role in Type 2 diabetes.

Any research in the field of prevention, control or at least reduction in insulin injections for type 1 diabetes is great news! Presently, type 2 diabetes is controllable through the means of medication, exercise, diet and an active lifestyle but type 1 diabetes is still not controllable.

Let us really hope that in the very near future, we have some break through for controlling type 1 diabetes.

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