An Overview of the Therapeutic Effects of Camel Milk in the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The main treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is insulin replacement via parenteral routes, which is far from satisfactory. Camel milk is an alternative to current insulin treatment. This paper discusses the chemical constituents and properties of camel milk, recent experimental evidences about the effectiveness of camel milk in the treatment of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, role of the camel milk in the restoration of damaged beta-cells of the pancreas and in the improvement of disturbed lipid metabolism associated with type 1 DM as well as the effects of camel milk in the improvement of clinical function parameters of the kidneys and liver of subjects with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. This paper demonstrates that, camel milk causes significant reduction in insulin dosages in insulin dependent diabetic subjects to obtain glycemic control along with significant improvement in HbA1c level, and improvement in micro albuminuria. Significant improvements were also observed in lipid metabolism, body mass index (BMI), biochemical parameters of the liver and kidney functions of camel milk fed experimental subjects with type-1 diabetes. Camel milk works as a regulator of blood sugar in the absence of original insulin, and it seems to work together with the body's own restorative and regenerative abilities. Camel milk is well tolerated and its uses are not associated with an increase in hypoglycemic events. Camel milk may be able to eliminate the alloxan and other chemicals' induced-toxicity on pancreas and on other body organs via regenerative effects on damaged cells and could be used as a restorative treatment of diabetes.

Influence of Camel Milk on the Hypoglycemic Effect of Metformin in Diabetic Rats

“…The practice is underway in Nigeria as policies are currently being put in place to integrate traditional medicine with an orthodox system of health care 23 , thus the need for search and standardization of available traditional and complementary medicines especially for chronic diseases. Several studies have investigated the hypoglycaemic effect of camel milk in Humans 24,25 and laboratory animals 26 , however, to the best of my knowledge, no study investigated whether camel milk, a common ethno-pharmacologic remedy used in Northern Nigeria in combination with an antidiabetic agent, influences the antidiabetic effect of a commonly used oral hypoglycemic agent (Metformin). The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of concurrent administration of camel milk and Metformin in diabetic rats and also evaluate synergy between the milk and Metformin using Combenefit Software.…”

Biochemical and Histopathological Studies on the Efficacy of Camel Milk and Urine against Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

“…Diabetes is one of the most prevalent and serious chronic diseases to human in nearly all countries. It is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in the world and each year about 12,000 to 24,000 people lose their sight because of Diabetes Mellitus and the leading cause of blindness in adults of about 20-71 years old [5]. In 2011, the disease affected 366 million people worldwide of which 1.6 people lost their lives, the number is expected to have risen to about 552 million by 2030 [5].…”

“…It is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in the world and each year about 12,000 to 24,000 people lose their sight because of Diabetes Mellitus and the leading cause of blindness in adults of about 20-71 years old [5]. In 2011, the disease affected 366 million people worldwide of which 1.6 people lost their lives, the number is expected to have risen to about 552 million by 2030 [5]. Oxidative stress [6], genetic and environmental factors [7], are attributed to the pathogenesis of Diabetes Mellitus.…”