Abdul Azeez

The study was designed with the objective to find the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and risk factors among senior citizens. This hospital based, cross sectional study was conducted among 250 elderly aged 60 years and above, including senior citizens of either sex, newly diagnosed and known cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus attending community medicine and geriatric OPDs of NIUM hospital, Bengaluru during stipulated period of study. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and risk factors were assessed. Survey data has been processed and analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 for windows. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was found 45.6% as a whole. The highest and lowest prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus found among 60-65 years and above 75 years, respectively. Prevalence among Males was 30% and Females was 15.6%. Mean ± SD of FBS and PPBS of type 2 DM were observed as 162.27 + 75.18 and 257.11 + 91.95, respectively. Higher prevalence of type 2 DM patients were found among BMI above 25 kg/m2. 38.8% of prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was observed among central obese senior citizens. 26% of higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was observed among patients had positive family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Results confirmed an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among senior citizens. Higher prevalence of type 2 DM was exhibited among senior citizens those were having obesity, overweight, hypertension and family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Newly screened cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus showed paramount importance of extension of screening programme in elderly.

Piper cubeba known as Kabab Chini in Unani Medicine, belongs to the family Piperaceae, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and this herb is mentioned in traditional Unani texts as an effective remedy for Renal disorder, Gonorrhoea, Leucorrhoea, Fever,  Rheumatism, Diabetes etc. It was found that the qualitative phytochemical study of this plant extract indicates the presence of many essential oils such consisting of monoterpenes: sesquiterpenes, germacene, cubebin, β-pinene etc. It chiefly possesses anti-microbial activity. Piperine is an amide (alkaloid) found naturally in plants belonging to the pyridine group of Piperaceae family, such as Piper cubeba and Piper nigrum which is widely used in various herbal cough syrups. Unani physicians on the basis of their own experience affirmed that Kabab Chini is one of the best drug for the treatment of Amra’z-e- Kullia (Renal diseases) and especially in restoring the normalcy of renal functioins. Ibn-Hubal Baghdadi (1121–1213 AD.) mentioned in his Kitab Al-Mukhtarat Fit Tibb about Kabab Chini. “Gurdon ka tanqiyah karti hai, Jigar ke suddon ko kholti hai,  unki pathri aur regh kharij krti hai.” Medicinal plants may serve as a vital source of potentially useful new compounds for the development of effective therapy to combat a variety of kidney problems. Many herbs have been claimed to possess nephroprotective properties but lacks scientific evidence. A concerted attempt has been made to highlight the healing corollary of Kabab Chini as mentioned in Unani medicine as to its nephroprotective property in the light of ancient Unani classics and recent scientific studies.