diabetes

Diabetes alters the biochemical pathways of body and increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to cardiovascular diseases. Compounds showing antioxidant activity could have a protective role against cardiovascular disease in diabetes. The current study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of senna (Cassia angustifolia) and/or fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) against streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in rats. Rats were divided into five groups: control, diabetic (60 mg·kg⁻¹of STZ), diabetic rats treated with senna (150mg/kg/day), diabetic rats administered with fennel (120mg/kg/day) and diabetic rats administered with a combination of senna and fennel. Diabetic rats demonstrated a substantial increment in the levels of blood glucose, lipid profile, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, nitric oxide and xanthine oxidase accompanied with a noteworthy decline in reduced glutathione content, vitamin C level and catalase activity in heart tissues with comparison to the control group. Daily oral treatment of senna or fennel aqueous extract for 4 consecutive weeks showed a marked attenuation of oxidative stress in heart tissues. Combination of both senna and fennel extracts exhibited more amelioration than these extracts alone and reversed the adverse effect of diabetes in rats by bringing blood glucose levels and lipid profile near to that of control.  The present investigation has demonstrated that treatment with a combination of senna and fennel extracts in STZ induced diabetes in rats show significant antidiabetic activity and pronounced cardioprotective effects.

The main purpose of this paper is to shed the light on the available data on depression among patients with diabetes mellitus in the Levant and Gulf countries, as well as get better understanding on the prevalence of the co-occurrence of this double whammy and find out what other sociodemographic factors that might affect the co-occurrence. Electronic databases CINAHL, Pub Med, Google Scholar, and Medline with Full Text were searched for English language articles in peer-reviewed journals between 2005 and 2014. A total of 11 studies exploring diabetes among patients with diabetes were selected, in order to review evidence on recent research in Gulf as well as Levant countries.  Nine of the reviewed articles reported high rates of co-morbidity of depression and diabetes. Moreover, diabetic women experience a higher prevalence of depression than men. Additionally, Poor glycemic control (Hb A1c) is linked with increased depressive symptoms. Also being on insulin regimen had shown to be associated with depression among patient with diabetes. Current research suggested that the risk of developing depression is increased in people with diabetes; however, further studies in the Gulf and Levant countries are required in order to establish the nature of the relationship between depression, glycemic control and the development of diabetes complications, then to make appropriate recommendations for treatment and to support management of diabetes.