Description

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Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine diseases in all populations and all age groups. It is a syndrome of disturbed intermediary metabolism caused by inadequate insulin secretion or impaired insulin action, or both. Diabetes mellitus comprises of heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by hyperglycemia, altered metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Along with this diabetes mellitus is associated with complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular disease (Expert committee, 1997; Alberti and Zimmette, 1998). Diabetes is mainly classified into two types as: Type-I (Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, IDDM) and Type-II (Non- Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, NIDDM). Both types are associated with excessive morbidity and mortality. Type I diabetes accounts for 5% to 10% of diabetes, usually occurs in children or young adults. This disease is caused by autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic β-cells that secrete insulin. The process involves a smoldering destructive process that can persist for several years and ultimately leading to failure of insulin secretion. Patients with type I diabetes require insulin therapy for survival and most patients ultimately develop devastating complications of this disease. The present need is for improved means of treating type I diabetes (strict glycemic control) until it is practical to prevent its development (Alberti and Zimmette, 1998).