Understanding Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults : Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Abstract

There are many types of diabetes like type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, etc but latent autoimmune diabetes in adults is the condition in which the adult has a slowly progressive form of diabetes mellitus. It is autoimmune diabetes which has the same clinical features present DM type 1 and DM type 2. That is the reason sometimes called type 1.5 diabetes. Patients presented with LADA mostly resistance to insulin. Studies have revealed that the LADA patients contain some kinds of antibodies against beta cells and stop the synthesis of insulin so much slower than type 1 diabetes patients. LADA keeps some genetic and immunological aspects with DM type 1. It affects the people who typically suffer by type 2 DM. People with LADA are mostly over age 30.Sometimes people are often misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes because patients get older when symptoms develop than is typical for someone with type 1 diabetes because at very first still pancreas produce some insulin. So, today we are going to read LADA in brief.

Introduction

This is autoimmune diabetes in adults which have similar characteristics of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. So it is also called 1.5 Diabetes. It is an irreversible condition with changes in diet and lifestyle. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. In this beta cells of the pancreas, which is responsible for insulin production, are attacked by the misdirected immune system. It mostly affects children and adolescents. People with type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin to survive. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by defects in insulin secretion as well as insulin resistance, wherein insulin secreted is not effectively used by the body. In these patients the gluconeogenesis process takes place. It can be managed with changes in lifestyle and oral medications.

Causes

The cause of LADA is when your pancreas gets damaged from antibodies and stops producing adequate amounts of insulin, which slowly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Genetic history may also be involved. When the pancreas gets damaged in LADA, the body destroys the beta cells of pancreas, as with type 1.

Symptoms

Following are the symptoms

• Polydipsia
• Polyuria
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bladder infections
• Skin infection
• Blurred vision
• Dry skin

Diagnosis

Following Are the Diagnosis

GADA (glutamic acid decarboxylase) antibody test which is a sensitive marker of LADA as it is predominant autoantibody.

Tests to Diagnose Any type of Diabetes Include

•  Fasting plasma glucose test :- In this test if glucose level is more than 126 mg/dl  indicate diabetes.
•  Random plasma glucose test :- In this test if glucose level is 200 mg/dl or higher it indicates diabetes.
• Glucose tolerance test :- 8-12 hours of overnight fasting is required. After taking a fasting sample of blood, glucose 75 g in adults or 1.75 g/kg of body weight in children, is orally administered. Two hours later blood samples are collected and glucose levels are estimated. Once diabetes is diagnosed, the test need not be repeated.
• Urinary sugar:- Generally, glucose is excreted in urine when blood glucose levels are elevated beyond 180 mg/dl. However in cases of renal glycosuria, where the renal threshold is low, glucose can get excreted in urine even when the blood glucose levels are lower than 180 mg/100 ml.

Ayurvedic Overview

जात: प्रमेही मुधुमेहिनो वा न साध्य उक्त: स हि बीजदोषात।

ये चापि केचित कुलजा विकारा भवन्ति तांश्च प्रवदन्त्य साध्यान।। (च. चि. ६/५७)

In the above shloka:-LADA is correlated with sahaja prameha (Hereditary diabetes). It is developed from the congenital factors. The congenital case of prameha or one inheriting the disease from his diabetic father is incurable because of the genetic defect. Whatever diseases are familial they are said to be incurable. In prameha there is involvement of vata, pitta and kapha. Kapha causes premehas by affecting medas (lipid metabolism), muscles and body fluid situated in the urinary bladder. Pitta aggravated by hot things causes the same by affecting the above entities. Vayu, on relative diminution of other two dosas, draws on the dhatus in the urinary bladder and thus causes prameha. Dosa produces respective types of prameha by reaching the urinary bladder and affecting the urine.

Dosha and dusyas

• In pramehas:-  Doshas are- Kapha, Pitta and Vata
• Dusyas are:- Fat,  blood, semen, fluid, muscle-fat, lymph, marrow, etc

Types of prameha

According to clinically, there are two types:-

1. Sthula prameha:- Urinary disorder of a fatty person.
2. Krisha prameha;- Urinary disorder of a lean person.

Causes of Prameha

According to charak samhita  (च. चि.6/4):-

• Inactivity
• Excessive sleep
• Eating curd
• The meat of domestic animal
• The meat of aquatic animal
• The meat of marshy animal
• Milk and milk products
• New grains
• Jaggery
• Food items that increase kapha dosha etc.

Symptoms of Prameha

तत्राविलप्रभूतमूत्रलक्षणा: सर्व एव प्रमेहा: (सु. स. नि. ६/६)

According to the above shloka – Turbid and excessive urination is the symptom of all prameha roga.

Management of Prameha

Treatment of Prameha is Depends on

• Sthula pramehi (obese patient)-  Sanshodhan (purification) should be done first and then brihana (nourishment) is followed.
• Krisha pramehi- brihana (nourishment) chikitsa should be given.
• Sneha dravya (oils) like sarsapa tailam (mustard oil), nimba tailam (neem oil) etc. should be selected in prameham.
• Svedanam (hot seduation) is contraindicated in prameha because heat produces medho vilayanam (fat dissolve) and increases dravatvam (liquid) of kapha, resulting in mutra atipravrtti (excessive urination).
• Sushruta has described 70 kashayas for different types of prameha.

Herbal Remedies for Lada By Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda follows strict ayurvedic principles from the last 20 years. It provides the best qualities of herbal remedies for Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults which is 100% pure, natural and vegetarian. All the herbal medicines are GMP certified and manufactured from the high efficacy of herbs which is described in our ancient textbook. All the medicines are free from chemicals, preservatives, yeast etc. Planet Ayurveda provides the herbal pack for LADA which include:-

Products List

1. Dia-Beta Plus
2. Karela Capsules
3. Fenugreek Capsules
4. Madhumehantak Churna

Product Description

1. Dia-Beta Plus

It is polyherbal capsules with no added preservatives, chemicals, additives etc. It contains Gurmaar (Gymnema sylvestre), Karela (Momordica charantia), Saptrangi (Salacia oblonga), Vizaysar (Pterocarpus marsupium) etc. This is bitter in taste and hot, light and dry in effect. While alleviating kapha and vata it aggravates pitta. This expels out the toxins from the body and helps in controlling the lipid profile. This is an immune-modulator, anti-oxidant and hormone precursor which tends to regulate important physiological functions. This detoxifies the body and boosts the enzymes of the liver. This helps in improving bowel movements. This contains various antioxidants which help in reducing body fat. It helps in purification of blood. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, etc.

Dosage – 1 to 2 Capsules twice daily with plain water, ½ hour before meals.

2. Karela Capsules

It is a single herbal capsule. It contains Karela (Momordica charantia). It maintains kapha and pitta dosha in the body. It contains various antioxidants which cleanses all the channels of the body and helps in reducing fat of the body. It contains charantin, vicine and polypeptide-p which lowers the blood glucose level in the body and helps in controlling diabetes. This is very useful in acne, pimples because it purifies the blood and provides glowing and acne free skin. It is a great wound healer. It is good for digestion and cardiac health. It promotes healthy gums and hairs.

Dosage :-1-2 Capsules twice daily, with plain water, after meals.

3. Fenugreek Capsule

It is a single herbal capsule. It contains Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). It is bitter in taste and light, hot and unctuous in effect. It aggravates pitta but pacifies vata and kapha. It contains various nutrients like carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and protein. It is a good appetizer, digestive, anti-flatulent, mildly laxative and anti-inflammatory. It promotes lactation and controls body aches in post delivery cases. It relieves indigestion, colic and distension. It possesses good anti-diabetic properties. This regime also lowers the serum lipid level besides helping in weight reduction.

Dosage:– 1-2 Capsules twice daily, with plain water, after meals.

4. Madhumehantak Churna

It is polyherbal churna contains Saptrangi (Salacia chinensis), Vijaysar (Pterocarpus marsupium), Bilva patra (Aegle marmelos), Gurmaar (Gymnema sylvestre), Neem patra (Azadirachta indica), Karela (Momordica charantia) etc. It is astringent and bitter in taste and dry, hot and light in effect. It alleviates vata and kapha. It contains iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium etc. It acts as an antipyretic, digestive and restorative action on the body. It is an important constituent of a number of anti-diabetic medicines. It is a blood purifier and healer of wounds. It relieves itching and excessive perspiration. It lowers the level of blood glucose in the body and controls the blood sugar in the diabetic patients.

Dosage:- 1 tsp twice daily with plain water.

Conclusion

LADA is an autoimmune-related condition in which your body destroys the beta cells of the pancreas. Diabetes is caused by all three doshas (vata, pitta, kapha). Imbalancing of all three doshas leads to such disease. It is quite difficult to cure but in Ayurveda we can manage it with various herbs like Neem, Garlic, Fenugreek, Karela, etc. Herbal medicines like fenugreek capsules, karela capsules, madhumehantak churna etc are very useful in controlling diabetes. We need to improve our lifestyle too and food habits etc