Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a condition caused by the growth of new blood vessels that are abnormal and fragile. When blood vessels that nourish the retina are blocked the eyes send signals for new blood vessels to grow. The signals trigger the growth of these new blood vessels. By themselves, these blood vessels do not cause symptoms or vision loss. If the new thin fragile walls leak blood, severe vision loss and even blindness can result.

Symptoms of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: At first, you will see a few specks of blood, or spots, "floating" in your vision. If spots occur, see your eye care professional as soon as possible. You may need treatment before more serious bleeding occurs. Hemorrhages tend to happen more than once, often during sleep. Sometimes, without treatment, the spots clear, and you will see better. However, bleeding can reoccur and cause severely blurred vision. You need to be examined by your eye care professional at the first sign of blurred vision, before more bleeding occurs. If left untreated, proliferative diabetic retinopathy can cause severe vision loss and even blindness. Also, the earlier you receive treatment, the more likely treatment will be effective.

Macular Edema

Macular Edema: It is a condition whereby fluid leaks into the center of the macula, the part of the eye where sharp, straight-ahead vision occurs. The fluid makes the macula swell, blurring vision.  It can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy, although it is more likely to occur as the disease progresses. About half of the people with proliferative diabetic retinopathy also have macular edema.

Diabetic Retinopathy Prevention

If you have diabetes get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year is encourage. It will benefit diabetic to remember that proliferative diabetic retinopathy can develop without symptoms. At this advanced stage, you are at high risk for vision loss and macular edema can develop without symptoms at any of the four stages of diabetic retinopathy. You can suffer from both and still see fine. However, you are at high risk for vision loss so early detection and timely treatment can prevent any tragedy.

Study showed that better control of blood sugar levels can slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy and also had much less kidney and nerve disease. Other way to control the development of diabetic retinopathy is to control elevated blood pressure and cholesterol level.

Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: It is treated with laser surgery. This procedure is called scatter laser treatment. Scatter laser treatment helps to shrink the abnormal blood vessels. Your doctor places 1,000 to 2,000 laser burns in the areas of the retina away from the macula, causing the abnormal blood vessels to shrink. Because a high number of laser burns are necessary, two or more sessions usually are required to complete treatment. Although you may notice some loss of your side vision, scatter laser treatment can save the rest of your sight. Scatter laser treatment may slightly reduce your color vision and night vision.

Scatter laser treatment works better before the fragile, new blood vessels have started to bleed. That is why it is important to have regular, comprehensive dilated eye exams. Even if bleeding has started, scatter laser treatment may still be possible, depending on the amount of bleeding.

If the bleeding is severe, you may need a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy. During a vitrectomy, blood is removed from the center of your eye.

Everyone with diabetes should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may need an eye exam more often. People with proliferative diabetic retinopathy can reduce their risk of blindness by 95 percent with timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care.

Macular Edema: It is treated with laser surgery. This procedure is called focal laser treatment. Your doctor places up to several hundred small laser burns in the areas of retinal leakage surrounding the macula. These burns slow the leakage of fluid and reduce the amount of fluid in the retina. The surgery is usually completed in one session. Further treatment may be needed.

A patient may need focal laser surgery more than once to control the leaking fluid. If you have macular edema in both eyes and require laser surgery, generally only one eye will be treated at a time, usually several weeks apart.

Focal laser treatment stabilizes vision. In fact, focal laser treatment reduces the risk of vision loss by 50 percent. In a small number of cases, if vision is lost, it can be improved. Contact your eye care professional if you have vision loss.

Advance Alternative Approach to Treating Diabetic Retinopathy:

Abstract: “Over the centuries, Chinese herbal drugs have served as a major source of medicines for the prevention and treatment of diseases including diabetes mellitus (known as Xiao-ke). It is estimated that more than 200 species of plants exhibit hypoglycaemic properties, including many common plants, such as pumpkin, wheat, celery, wax guard, lotus root and bitter melon. To date, hundreds of herbs and traditional Chinese medicine formulas have been reported to have been used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This paper provides a brief review of the antidiabetic drugs of plant origin that have been approved by the Chinese health regulatory agency for commercial use in China. It was believed, through pharmacological studies, that medicinal herbs were meticulously organized in these antidiabetic drug formulas such that polysaccharide containing herbs restore the functions of pancreatic tissues and cause an increase in insulin output by the functional beta cells, while other ingredients enhance the microcirculation, increase the availability of insulin and facilitate the metabolism in insulin-dependent processes. Pharmacological and clinical evaluations indicated that these drugs had a mild, but significant, blood glucose lowering effect and that the long-term use of these agents may be advantageous over chemical drugs in alleviating some of the chronic diseases and complications caused by diabetes. Additionally, the use of these natural agents in conjunction with conventional drug treatments, such as a chemical agent or insulin, permits the use of lower doses of the drug and/or decreased frequency of administration which decreases the side effects most commonly observed.” Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Research showed that Radix Trichosanthis, Radix Rehmannia Glutinosa, Radix Glehniae, Semen Plantaginis, Poria Cocos Wolf, Herba Cynomorii and Radix Polygonum Multiflorum can be very effective in treating diabetic problems.

Research from The School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai China, The College of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin China and Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin China shows that polysaccharide of Poria Cocos Wolf  and Radix Rehmannia Glutinosa can restore the functions of pancreatic tissues and can cause an increase in insulin output by the functional beta cells, while other ingredients of these plants enhance the microcirculation, increasing the availability of insulin and facilitating the metabolism in the insulin dependent process. Pharmacological and clinical evaluation indicated that these herbs can significantly lower blood glucose.

In a research by Dr. K. Casanas and team, “The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus with Chinese Medicine” a formulation containing Radix Rehmannia Glutinosa, Radix Trichosanthis and other herbs was tested on 150 cases of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. 138 cases showed great improvement in their diabetic condition.

Test on animals showed that Semen Cuscutae can improve the function of the body, kidney and thymus gland as well as increasing their white cell count, red cell count, hemoglobin content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Mi Hemin ed. Comparison Study on the bone support and yang strengthening effects of Semen Cuscutae, Chinese Traditional Herbal Drugs, 1991. 22 (12): 547.

Research has shown that ursolic acid (of Herba Cynomorii) treatment can normalize the disturbed anti-oxidant status of rats intoxicated with CC 14 by maintaining the levels of glutathione and by inhibiting the production of malondiable-hyde due to its radical scavenging properties. Martin-Aragon Si, De  Las Heras B etc “Pharmacological modification of endogenous antioxidant enzymes by ursolic acid on Tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats and primary cultures of rats hepatocytes”. Exp Toxical. Pathol. 2001:53 (2 – 3) 199 – 206 , Dpto. Farmacologia, UCM, Madrid, Spain.

Research has shown that the two tripenoid compound, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid can enhance the total white blood cells count of Balb/C  mice “Phytomedicine : International Journal of Phytotheraphy and Phytopharmacology”. July 01, 2003, Raphael T.J. and Kuttan G.

Cucurbitacin are used for diabetes. Dr. S.Dharmananda, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon. (Cucurbitacin are found in herbs like trichosanthis, citrillus and momordica).

L-arabinose is a phytochemical of Semen Plantaginis. It is a 5-carbon sugar. Research showed that is has a unique property. It inhibits sucrose activity in the intestine. Sucrose is an enzyme that breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose. By inhibiting the activity of sucrose, L-arabinose prevents the breakdown of sucrose into glucose and fructose, thus reducing the absorption of sugar into the body. In one rat study, the little critters were fed up to 30 grams of sucrose per 100 gram of feed. Researchers added anywhere between 0 to 1.0 grams of L-arabinose per 100 grams feed. The rats ate this sugar brew for 10 days. Researchers found that lipogenic enzymes (enzymes that build fat) and triglyceride concentrations in the liver went up when the rats consumed sucrose. When L-arabinose was consumed, these changes did not occur. L-arabinose feeding reduced fat weights, plasma insulin and triglycerides. Conclusion: L-arabinose inhibits sucrose activity, reduces sucrose utilization, and  decreases lipogenesis and decreases plasma insulin and triglycerides. Ref: Osaki et al “L-arabinose feeding prevents increases due to dietary sucrose in lipogenic enzymes and triacylglycerol levels in rats”. Journal of Nutrition  2001, 131: 796 – 79

 

In one research the effects of L-arabinose (from Semen Plantaginis) on intestinal absorption of sucrose have been investigated. The results of these investigations have been shown that L-arabinose inhibit the sucrase activity of intestinal mucose but no showed inhibitory effect on the activities of intestinal maltase, isomaltase, trehalase, lactase and glucoamylase. L-Arabinose suppress increase of blood glucose after sucrose loading dose dependently in mice, but showed no effect after starch loading. This fact can be more interesting for the application of L-arabinose in light diet and diabetic disease mixed in small quantities with sucrose.

 

Research have shown that plants containing the phyotchemical triterpene (saponin) glycosides have hypoglycemic and hypolipemic activities. The triterpenes compounds are sub divided into 20 groups of which oleanic triterpene (oleanic acid, ursolic acid and alpha-and beta amyrin) is found in the largest variety of plants (Semen Cuscutae, Herba Cynomorii, Radix Rehmannia Glutinosa and Semen Plantaginis). "Ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA) are triperpene acids having a similar chemical structure and are distributed widely in plants all over the world. They are of interest to scientists because of their biological activities. OA has antifungal, insecticidal, anti-HIV, diuretic, complement inhibitory, blood sugar depression and gastrointestinal transit modulatin activities. UA and OA also possess liver-protection and anti-inflammatory effects. In recent years, it was found that they had marked anti-tumor effects and exhibited cytotoxic activity toward many cancer cell line in culture. Concerning their effects on colon carcinoma cells, there is little available so far in the current literature. The present study was designed to investigate their inhibitory effects on the human colon carcinoma cell line HCT15." "Effects of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid on human colon carcinoma cell line HCT." Jie Li, Wei-Jian Guo, Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University,Shanghai 200092, China. Qing-Yao Yang, Department of Biology, Shanghai Teachers University, Shanghai 200234, China ISSN 1007-9327 CN 14-1219/R  World J Gastroenterol  2002; June 8(3):493-495

 

Huang RL, et al., Studies on the antihyperglycemic actions of Chinese herbs, 1980-1984 The Annual Reports of the National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan. Dr. Huang Ray-Ling and his coworkers at the National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine in Taiwan conducted an extensive laboratory investigation of Chinese herbs for diabetes. He tested a variety of herb extracts in both alloxan-treated mice and normal mice, in order to compare the impacts of the herbs with or without insulin involvement. To obtain more significant results, blood sugar responses were monitored at different times after administration of herbs, in glucose tolerance tests, and with differing dosages of the herb materials. Herbs like rehmannia and trichosanthes root showed a substantial hypoglycemic effect in alloxan-treated mice but little effect in normal mice

“Data is presented suggesting that rates of L-arabinose transport, calculated from L-[1-14C] arabinose uptake measurements, can be used as indicators of changes in the rates of glucose transport in isolated rat adipocytes. L-[1-14C]arabinose, at 37 degrees C, was found to be nonmetabolizable and taken up by adipocytes exponentially with time reaching 95% of equilibrium in 30 min. When L-arabinose is corrected for background, the corrected uptake values conform to the time-dependent monoexponential uptake relationshiop predicted for a facilitated transport system and are not significantly different from 0 in the presence of 70 micron cytochalasin B. Transport rates were calculated from corrected uptake values near the half-maximal uptake of L-arabinose and from a value of the total amount of L-arabinose in the cell at equilibrium. Competitive inhibition of L-arabinose transport by glucose and countertransport of L-arabinose in the presence of glucose suggest that L-arabinose and glucose share the same transport system. Data is presented demonstrating the effect of insulin and dexamethasone on the transport system that confirms the conclusions obtained by other investigators using other methods.” “Glucose transport in isolated rat adipocytes with measurements of L-arabinose uptake.” JE Foley, SW Cushman, and LB Salans. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 234: G112-G119, 1978; 0193-1857/78 AJP: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 234, Issue 2, G112-G119 American Physiological Society

“Ursolic acid was isolated form Herba Cynomorii by thin layer chromatography and was quantitatively determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The results indicate that the content of ursolic acid is 0.78%. The average recovery rate of ursolic acid is 97.4%, RSD = 0.45% (n = 4).” “Quantitative determination of ursolic acid in Herba cynomorii by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.” Ding H, Wang Y, Wang S, You W. Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1998 Feb;23(2):102-3

Other research have been done on antidiabetic Chinese herbs. They can be found in the following articles.

1)  Hong-Yen Hsu: “Chinese Herb Theology for diabetes mellitus”, Bulletin of the Oriental Healing Acts Institute 1978; 3 (1) : 12-17.

2)  Huang K.L et al., “Studies on the anti hyperglycemic actions of Chinese Herbs”, 1980 – 1984. The Annual Reports of the National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taipei Hsien, Taiwan.

3)  Yoshikawa M, Matsuda H. “Anti  diabetogenic activity of oleanolic acid glycosides from medicinal foodstuff”.  Biofactors 2000: 13: 231-237.

With the realization that conventional treatment can be dangerously invasive, many are now opting for more traditional advance proven approach based on clinical experience to treat diabetic retinopathy. Holistic herbal formulation has been proven to be effective for treating diabetic retinopathy permanently without any dangerous side effects.

70-year old diabetic man, from half-blind to clear sky!! This is the ideal rejuvenation result. He said he has fully recovered from diabetes i.e. no more medication of any type needed. It would be interesting to find out how he did it!!   Thanks to growing trust in herbal treatments survival rates have improved over the years. Herbal formulations to treat various types of diabetic problems has proven to be safe and very effective without any side effects. When allopathic science failed, more and more people have to turn to trustworthy alternative source. It was desperation that saves them.